USA warning as Foreign Office changes travel advice

Millions of people visit the USA from the UK each year

Travel guidance for anyone planning to go to, or currently visiting, the USA has been updated by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO regularly amends its advice on travel to any of 226 nations and territories to help keep people informed and safe.

A new alert issued on Tuesday morning warns: "Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida on the night of 9 October or morning of 10 October with tropical force winds affecting the west coast from the morning of 9 October. There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and high winds on the west coast and heavy rainfall and high winds are expected to impact large parts of Florida."

People are advised to "monitor approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Center website, follow instructions from local authorities, including evacuation orders, and visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website for information on preparing for extreme weather and evacuating". Travellers should also check with airlines and/or travel agents about "possible disruption to flights or airport services" and follow their advice.

The Category 4 storm is sweeping across the Gulf of Mexico, and experts say it could bring destruction to areas already reeling from devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene 12 days ago. Almost the entirety of Florida's west coast was under a hurricane warning early on Tuesday as the storm and its 155mph winds crept toward the state at 9mph.

A Florida mayor issued a stark warning to people to evacuate or "you're gonna die" on CNN. Tampa mayor Jane Castor said Hurricane Helene was a “wake-up call,” but Milton could be “literally catastrophic".

It was downgraded early on Tuesday to Category 4 hurricane, the Mirror reports. But forecasters said it still posed "an extremely serious threat to Florida" and could pose serious danger to life.