Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen and is due to reach major hurricane status as it rolls through the Gulf of Mexico. The west coast of Florida may experience destructive winds and potentially hazardous storm surge.

Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen as it churns through the Gulf of Mexico, now poised to reach major hurricane status. The west coast of Florida is bracing for destructive winds and a potentially life-threatening storm surge. 

This comes just weeks after the state was battered by Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that left behind catastrophic flooding and debris along an 800-kilometer path when it made landfall on September 26.

Milton's winds have increased by 68 kilometers per hour in just over half a day, with sustained winds now reaching 136 kilometers per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is rapidly intensifying and is expected to strengthen further over the next two days. 

The center projected that Milton will strengthen into a major hurricane.

Customers, caught up in the panic, rushed to stores in fear. Many shelves were left bare as residents began to experience the impact of the hurricane. Essential items such as toilet paper, paper towels, and bottled water were sold out.

Governor Ron DeSantis extended the state of emergency to 16 additional counties on Sunday, bringing the total number of counties in Florida under the command to 67.

Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are expected to receive four to eight inches of rain by Thursday. This amount is equal to a month's worth of rain for Miami, two months for Orlando, and three months for Tampa. Some areas in the state may see more than 15 inches of rainfall, as reported by the hurricane center.

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