Hurricane Milton reaches category 5 with winds of 250 km/h.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported this Monday that Cyclone Milton reached category 5, with maximum sustained winds of 250 km/h (160 mph) and stronger gusts, while heading towards the state of Florida.

The monitoring center reported on the social network X that, according to data from the hurricane hunter aircraft of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (@53rdWRS), the recent intensification of Hurricane Milton has been confirmed by accurate measurements.

Currently, Hurricane Milton is located 190 kilometers west-northwest of Celestún and 240 kilometers west of Progreso, both in the Mexican state of Yucatán, and 1,195 kilometers west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, towards which it is headed, according to the predicted trajectory.

The tropical cyclone is moving east-southeast at a speed of 13 kilometers per hour, and according to the NHC, Milton will move near or just north of the Yucatán Peninsula during Monday and Tuesday. Subsequently, it will cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of Florida on Wednesday.

The powerful hurricane poses a serious storm surge threat in Tampa Bay, leading to evacuation orders and increasing the urgency of cleanup efforts after Hurricane Helene, which flooded this same coastal area less than two weeks ago, noted the AP agency, cited by 7 News Miami.

The cited source reported that a hurricane warning has been issued for parts of the state of Yucatán, while much of the west coast of Florida and Lake Okeechobee, prone to overflowing during heavy storms, are under hurricane and storm surge watch.

The center of Hurricane Milton could impact Tampa Bay on Wednesday and continue as a hurricane as it crosses central Florida toward the Atlantic, largely sparing other states previously affected by Helene, which left at least 230 dead in its path from Florida to the Appalachians.

Meteorologists warned about the possibility of a surge that could reach between 2.4 and 3.6 meters in Tampa Bay, also warning that heavy rains, with accumulations of 13 to 25 centimeters in the mainland Florida and the Keys, could cause flash flooding and river flooding, with some areas receiving up to 38 centimeters of water, AP reported.

Although Hurricane Milton, a category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, continues its path through the Gulf of Mexico and strengthens towards Florida, its effects could impact the westernmost provinces of Cuba starting Monday night, according to the latest weather reports.

Authorities have issued alerts for the region, as tropical storm winds are expected to start affecting areas of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, and La Habana.

The NHC estimated that strong winds, with speeds of 39 mph or more, could reach the western tip of Cuba starting at 8:00 PM on Monday, with greater intensity during the early hours of Tuesday.

This area is within the band with a 20% to 30% chance of receiving these winds, representing a moderate risk to infrastructure and the well-being of the residents.