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A hurricane set to hit the US is expected to strengthen into a major Category 5 storm – as Florida prepares for its largest evacuation in seven years.

Hurricane Milton, which strengthened from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Sunday, is forecast to make landfall in the US on Wednesday.

The weather system was upgraded on Monday after sustaining winds of 150mph while sweeping east across the Gulf of Mexico, officials from the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

It is predicted to hit around the Tampa Bay area before travelling over Orlando.

It comes after more than 200 people were killed when Hurricane Helene tore across the southeastern US, including parts of Florida, late last month. That was a Category 4 storm when it made landfall.

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Before and after Hurricane Helene

Forecasters say some affected areas will likely be hit again, worsening the damage caused less than a fortnight ago.

Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida’s emergency management division, warned that residents should prepare for the “largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma“.

He added: “I highly encourage you to evacuate.”

Tom Murphy prepares a sandbag with children, as sandbags are distributed to Pinellas County residents before the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Milton, in Seminole, Florida, U.S. October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
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A man prepares a sandbag with his children in Pinellas County, Florida. Pic: Reuters

A view of near-empty toilet paper shelves at a Walmart as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Tampa, Florida, U.S., October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
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Near-empty shelves at a Walmart in Tampa ahead of Milton’s arrival. Pic: Reuters

Sheriff Chad Chronister said the situation “stinks” but “if you safeguard your families, you will be alive”.

The fire service warned there was a risk to life for anyone staying in the area.

“If you remain there, you could die and my men and women could die trying to rescue you,” fire service chief Jason Dougherty said. “Help them by leaving.”

In 2017, around seven million people were ordered to flee their homes in Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma, which ended up killing more than 130 people in the state.

The mass evacuation caused long traffic jams on motorways and major queues at petrol stations.

Officials say they have learnt lessons from the chaotic scenes in 2017, and will have emergency fuel stations and charging points for electric vehicles along evacuation routes.

What can we expect to happen?

The Category 5 hurricane has sustained wind speeds greater than 155mph, and will bring down many trees.

It is likely to cause total roof failure for many buildings, with some smaller buildings likely to be overturned or blown away completely.

Storm surges greater than 18ft are likely, while damage due to wave action and debris will be significant.

Low-lying areas within five to 10 miles of the sea may need evacuation 12 hours or more before the storm centre arrives due to flooding cutting off escape routes.

However it’s worth noting that Milton may weaken before making landfall.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned power cuts were likely and that debris already caused by Hurricane Helene would be added to.

He added: “I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point.

“You have time to prepare – all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place.

“If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”

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Pinellas County, which includes the city of St Petersburg, is likely to issue mandatory evacuations for more than 500,000 people in the lowest-lying areas on Monday, officials told a news conference.

Evacuations have already been ordered for six hospitals, 25 nursing homes and 44 assisted living facilities in the county.

A person hands over empty bags to a man, as sandbags are distributed to Pinellas County residents before the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Milton, in Seminole, Florida, U.S. October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
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Empty sandbags are distributed to motorists in Pinellas County. Pic: Reuters

St Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said: “We already will be rebuilding for years because of Hurricane Helene, and that will be exacerbated by the impacts of this storm.

“Remember, Hurricane Helene was 100 miles away from us, moving in a different direction. This is a powerful hurricane, headed directly for us.”

A hurricane alert has also been issued for the northern coast of Mexico‘s Yucatan Peninsula.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, US President Joe Biden announced a further 500 active-duty soldiers would be sent to North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, bringing the total to 1,500 troops.

More than $137m (£104m) in federal aid for the region has also been approved so far.

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Israel approves plan to seize all of Gaza and hold it indefinitely, officials say

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Israel approves plan to seize all of Gaza and hold it indefinitely, officials say

Israel has approved a plan to capture all of the Gaza Strip and remain there for an unspecified length of time, Israeli officials say.

According to Reuters, the plan includes distributing aid, though supplies will not be let in yet.

The Israeli official told the agency that the newly approved offensive plan would move Gaza’s civilian population southward and keep humanitarian aid from falling into Hamas’s hands.

On Sunday, the United Nations rejected what it said was a new plan for aid to be distributed in what it described as Israeli hubs.

Israeli cabinet ministers approved plans for the new offensive on Monday morning, hours after it was announced that tens of thousands of reserve soldiers are being called up.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far failed to achieve his goal of destroying Hamas or returning all the hostages, despite more than a year of brutal war in Gaza.

Palestinian children struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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Palestinian children struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza. Pic: AP

Officials say the plan will help with these war aims but it would also push hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

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They said the plan included the “capturing of the strip and the holding of territories”.

It would also try to prevent Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid, which Israel says strengthens the group’s rule in Gaza.

The UN rejected the plan, saying it would leave large parts of the population, including the most vulnerable, without supplies.

It said it “appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic – as part of a military strategy”.

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IDF reservists call for end to war in Gaza

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More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since the IDF launched its ground offensive in the densely-populated territory, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

It followed the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw around 250 people taken hostage.

A fragile ceasefire that saw a pause in the fighting and the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners collapsed earlier this year.

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At least 15 injured in ‘US-British’ strike on Yemeni capital, according to Houthi group

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At least 15 injured in 'US-British' strike on Yemeni capital, according to Houthi group

Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has said 15 people have been injured in “US-British” airstrikes in and around the capital Sanaa.

Most of those hurt were from the Shuub district, near the centre of the city, a statement from the health ministry said.

Another person was injured on the main airport road, the statement added.

It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against the Houthis and their Iranian “masters” following a missile attack by the group on Israel’s main international airport on Sunday morning.

It remains unclear whether the UK took part in the latest strikes and any role it may have played.

On 29 April, UK forces, the British government said, took part in a joint strike on “a Houthi military target in Yemen”.

“Careful intelligence analysis identified a cluster of buildings, used by the Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, located some fifteen miles south of Sanaa,” the British Ministry of Defence said in a previous statement.

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On Sunday, the militant group fired a missile at the Ben Gurion Airport, sparking panic among passengers in the terminal building.

The missile impact left a plume of smoke and briefly caused flights to be halted.

Four people were said to be injured, according to the country’s paramedic service.

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Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Houthis and Iran after missile attack

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Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Houthis and Iran after missile attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate against the Houthis and their Iranian “masters” after the group launched a missile attack on the country’s main international airport.

A missile fired by the group from Yemen landed near Ben Gurion Airport, causing panic among passengers in the terminal building.

“Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran,” Mr Netanyahu wrote on X. “Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.”

Pic: Reuters
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Israeli police officers investigate the missile crater. Pic: Reuters

The missile impact left a plume of smoke and briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at the airport. Some international carriers have cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv for several days.

Four people were lightly wounded, paramedic service Magen David Adom said.

Air raid sirens went off across Israel and footage showed passengers yelling and rushing for cover.

The attack came hours before senior Israeli cabinet ministers were set to vote on whether to intensify the country’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, and as the army began calling up thousands of reserves in anticipation of a wider operation in the enclave.

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Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the group fired a hypersonic ballistic missile at the airport.

Iran’s defence minister later told a state TV broadcaster that if the country was attacked by the US or Israel, it would target their bases, interests and forces where necessary.

Israel’s military said several attempts to intercept the missile were unsuccessful.

Air, road and rail traffic were halted after the attack, police said, though it resumed around an hour later.

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Yemen’s Houthis have been firing missiles at Israel since its war with Hamas in Gaza began on 7 October 2023, and while most have been intercepted, some have penetrated the country’s missile defence systems and caused damage.

Israel has previously struck the group in Yemen in retaliation and the US and UK have also launched strikes after the Houthis began attacking international shipping, saying it was in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war with Hamas.

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