"Hurricane Milton to Intensify to Category 4, Florida Braces for Life-Threatening Impacts"

Millions of people across the Florida Peninsula are on alert as Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico while it continues on a path toward the Sunshine State. The hurricane is expected to reach Category 4 status before bringing a potentially life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and torrential rain to the state this week.

"Milton is rapidly intensifying," the National Hurricane Center wrote Sunday night. "Satellite images indicate very deep convection in the eyewall and hints of an eye starting to appear."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials held a news conference on Sunday morning and said evacuations are likely, and time is running out to prepare for the hurricane's potentially deadly impacts.