Milton Upgraded to Category 5 Hurricane

Hurricane Milton quickly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico by the afternoon of Monday, October 7, forecasters said, citing data accumulated by Hurricane Hunter aircraft.

Satellite imagery released by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University shows the large storm swirl in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm carried maximum sustained winds up to 160 mph (250 km/hr) with higher gusts. Hours earlier, forecasters said the storm had been upgraded to a Category 4.

Milton was expected to bring strong winds to the Yucatan Peninsula, and heavy rainfall related to the storm would affect parts of Florida throughout Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Storyful