Less than 10 days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, the state is bracing for another potentially devastating blow from a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, this one a potential Category 3 storm.
FWIW, The Weather Channel says something slightly different:
Most of the new computer guidance suggests that a Category 3 hurricane will develop, though some models have a stronger storm than this. Residents should prepare as if a Category 4 or 5 hurricane is anticipated.
Data from NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft
indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near
155 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Milton is a category 4
hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Milton is
forecast to become a category 5 hurricane later today and become a
large hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico
FWIW, The Weather Channel says something slightly different:
https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2024-10-06-milton-major-hurricane-threat-florida-gulf-coast
Oof
Well it’s now already a category 4 hurricane so this was quickly outdated.
At the time you posted this they were actually upgrading it to a category 5. It’s the fastest developing storm in recorded history.
Yup:
Source: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/071453.shtml