Hurricane Milton hits hard and leaves Yucatan and Florida on high alert

Hurricane Milton, which rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm, threatens to unleash unprecedented devastation on the Gulf of Mexico and Florida's west coast. The cyclone, which surprised forecasters with its intensifying speed, reached wind speeds of 180 miles per hour (mph) on Monday night, and while it is expected to diminish in strength before making landfall, its size and storm surge could have catastrophic consequences.

On Monday, October 7, Milton was only 115 kilometers from Celestún, on the Yucatán coast, bringing torrential rains and destructive winds that have already impacted seven Mexican states. A red alert was declared in the region due to the threat of heavy flooding, falling trees and damage to the electrical system, while waves of up to 20 feet were reported near the coast.