The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a recent advisory indicating that Hurricane Milton has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 124 mph (200 km/h). Despite this reduction, Milton remains a forceful hurricane.
In a post on the social media platform X, the NHC highlighted that tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain are currently impacting regions, accompanied by multiple tornado warnings across the Florida peninsula. This underscores the significant threat that Hurricane Milton poses as it continues its course.
The monitoring center also noted that heavy rains and tropical storm-force winds are making their way inland across Florida. A recent wind gust of 68 mph (109 km/h) was recorded at a weather station in Fort Myers Beach, illustrating the system's danger as it progresses through the area.
The NHC has issued a cautionary statement: "If a tornado warning is announced for your vicinity, be prepared to seek shelter immediately, ideally away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding."
Renowned meteorologist John Morales mentioned on X that Milton might be entering a weakening phase: "Beginning its terminal weakening stage. The minimum barometric pressure is rising rapidly." Morales further pointed out that while barometric pressure has started to climb, Hurricane Milton has transitioned from winds of 165 mph to being downgraded to a Category 3 storm.
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