Milton rapidly intensifies into a category 5 Hurricane

The US National Hurricane Center says Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Milton has strengthened to a category 5 hurricane.  

The NHC in its latest update says sustained winds are estimated to be 160 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Data from the aircraft also indicate that the minimum pressure has fallen to 925 mb (27.31 inches). 

At 10 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 21.7 North, longitude 91.7 West. Milton is moving toward the east-southeast near 9 mph (15 km/h).

An eastward to east-southeastward motion is forecast through tonight, followed by a turn toward the east and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.   

On the forecast track, Milton is forecast to move near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula today and Tuesday, then cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday.