Storm-battered Florida braced for a direct hit from Hurricane Milton which strengthened back to a Category 5 storm, as US President Joe Biden begged residents to flee what he warned could be the worst natural disaster to hit the state in a century.

Storm-battered Florida is bracing for a direct hit from Hurricane Milton which has strengthened back to a Category 5 storm, as US President Joe Biden begged residents to flee what he warned could be the worst natural disaster to hit the state in a century.

a Category 5 storm Tuesday, as US President Joe Biden begged residents to flee what he warned could be the worst natural disaster to hit the state in a century.

The Government has issued a warning to travellers to follow local advice and guidance

The race to escape is on as an already battered Florida braces for another powerful hurricane.

Florida healthcare facilities prepare for Hurricane Milton, evacuating patients and stocking up on supplies to weather the storm.

Mandatory evacuation orders cover around 5.9 million people ahead of Category 5 storm’s arrival.

Milton is the second huge hurricane in as many weeks to rumble toward Florida's west coast.

The eye, a small yet terrifying feature, has gone through rapid power surge, which appears to be the latest example of a worrying climate trend.

Hurricane Milton remains a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on Tampa and St. Petersburg, engulfing the populous region with towering storm surges and turning debris from Helene’s devastation 12 days ago into projectiles.While the storm had previously weakened, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tuesday that Hurricane Milton was once again a Category 5 storm.Follow AP’s coverage of tropical weather at https://apnews.com/hub/hurricanes.Here’s the latest:Hurricane Milton picks up lateral speed as it moves toward FloridaMIAMI — Hurricane Milton's wind speeds have slightly decreased, but it remains a Category 5 storm, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center's most recent advisory.The storm has maximum sustained wind speeds of 160 mph (260 kph). As of 11 p.m. EDT Tuesday, it was 405 miles (650 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, Florida. It has picked up lateral speed, moving toward Florida at 12 mph (19 kph), and the hurricane center said it was expected to travel more quickly…

Florida gas stations are running out of fuel ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall.If the storm damages Port Tampa Bay, it could mean long-term trouble

Utah Task Force 1 is headed to south-central Georgia to stage for search and rescue operations that will likely be needed in the days ahead.

Floridians on Wednesday had one final day to evacuate or hunker down ahead of the category 5 Hurricane Milton, potentially one of the most destructive ever to hit the Gulf Coast of Florida.

The Salvation Army already provided over 312,000 hot meals and are prepared to do more as Hurricane Milton now brews.