“MILTON RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE,” the NHC announced. “Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Milton has strengthened to a category 5. The max sustained winds are estimated to be 160 mph with higher gusts.”

Milton grew quickly into a Category 5 storm Monday morning and is forecast to make landfall in Florida midweek. The state could see its largest evacuation orders since 2017.