Hurricane Milton Hits Florida as Category 3 Storm

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, bringing winds of up to 120 mph and triggering tornadoes and storm surges along the coast. The hurricane had intensified to a Category 5 over the Gulf of Mexico with winds reaching 180 mph, threatening regions still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Residents across Florida have been evacuating or preparing for the storm, with shelters filling up and many boarding up homes. Scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography deployed wave drifters to measure wave heights, with some waves reaching 30 feet, aiding in future storm prediction efforts. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis assured that the state is well-prepared and emphasized the importance of evacuation compliance. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves eastwards into the Atlantic but not before causing significant damage.