Florida’s west coast faces a battering from a second powerful hurricane in just over a week.
Hurricane Milton is forecast to “intensify rapidly” today (Monday) from carrying 90mph winds.
It will become a “major hurricane” while crossing the Gulf of Mexico towards the west coast of Florida on Wednesday local time.
Heavy rainfall already across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula will total up to 15 inches across portions of the US state and the Florida Keys on Wednesday night, the US National Hurricane Centre warned.
“This rainfall brings the risk of considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with the potential for moderate to major river flooding,” the alert added.
“Storm surge and Hurricane watches will likely be issued for portions of Florida early Monday.
“While it is too soon to specify the exact magnitude and location of the greatest impacts, there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida peninsula beginning early Wednesday.”
The imminent arrival of Milton followed devastation wreaked by Hurricane Helene 10 days ago – ranked as the deadliest US mainland storm since Katrina in 2005, killing up to 255 people and leaving hundreds missing.
Many of the deaths occurred in North Carolina, while others were recorded in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.