Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified Monday morning, strengthening from a Category 4 hurricane to a dangerous Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of about 200 miles per hour, as it took aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast, which is still reeling is from Helene’s record-breaking landfall just over a week ago.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET update.

Millions are facing the prospect of evacuation as Milton gains steam en route to the Tampa Bay area, where it is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening. If the storm stays on its current path, Milton could be the worst storm to hit the Tampa area in more than 100 years.

The hurricane is one of only forty recorded hurricanes to have escalated to Category 5 level in the Atlantic Ocean, and one of seven hurricanes to go from Category 1 classification to Category 5 in 24 hours or less. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials described Milton during a call with reporters Monday afternoon as the third fastest-growing storm on record in the Atlantic Ocean, behind Hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Felix (2007).

At a news conference Monday alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state’s emergency management director Kevin Guthrie urged people in the Tampa Bay area to evacuate.

‘I beg you. I beg you,” Guthrie said. “Drowning deaths as a result of a storm surge are 100% preventable if you leave.”

DeSantis said Monday that 51 Florida counties are now under a state of emergency. President Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida on Monday and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local efforts in response to Hurricane Milton.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the Mexican government has issued a hurricane warning for the coast of Mexico from Celestún to Cabo Catoche, and a tropical storm warning from Celestún to Cancún. Those in the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys and the northwestern Bahamas are also urged to monitor the hurricane’s progress.

Where is Hurricane Milton and what is its path?

From 5:00 PM ET Monday:

• Milton was located approximately 80 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico.

• It was located about 675 miles southwest of Tampa.

• The storm had maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour.

• The storm was moving from east to southeast at a speed of 10 miles per hour.

The NHC warned Monday morning of “an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday evening or early Wednesday.”

“Residents in that area should heed any advice from local officials and evacuate if instructed to do so,” the hurricane center said.

Parts of the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys can expect rainfall of 5 to 10 inches through Wednesday night, with local totals of up to 15 inches. Such rainfall brings “the risk of significant flooding, urban and regional flooding, along with the possibility of moderate to major river flooding,” meteorologists said.

Meanwhile, parts of the northern Yucatán Peninsula can expect 2 to 4 inches of rain.

Warnings and evacuations

Starting Monday 5:00 PM ET, a hurricane warning is in effect for:

• Celestún to Rio Lagartos, Mexico

• The west coast of Florida, from Bonita Beach to the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay

A ‘hurricane warning’ means hurricane conditions are expected in the area. Precautions and preparation for people and property must be completed.

A hurricane watching is in effect for:

• The west coast of Florida, from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach

• The east coast of Florida, from St. Lucie/Indian River County Line north to St. Marys River

• Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche

• Campeche south of Celestún

• Dry Tortugas

• Lake Okeechobee

A “hurricane watch” means that hurricane conditions are possible within the areas and is typically issued 48 hours before the hurricane is expected to strike.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

• Rio Lagartos to Cancun

• All Florida Keys

• Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Flamingo to south of Chokoloskee

• Florida’s Gulf Coast, from the Suwannee River to Indian Pass

A ‘Tropical Storm Warning’ means tropical storm conditions are expected in the areas within the next 36 hours.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for:

• East coast of Florida Peninsula, south of St. Lucie/Indian River County Line south to Flamingo

• Coast of Georgia and South Carolina, north of the St. Marys River to the South Santee River in South Carolina

A ‘tropical storm watch’ means tropical storm conditions are possible in the areas within the next 48 hours.

A storm surge warning is in effect for:

A ‘storm surge warning’ means there is a life-threatening flood risk over the next 36 hours.

A watching storm surge is in effect for:

• Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to Edisto Beach, SC, including St. Johns River

A “storm surge watch” means that there is a risk of life-threatening flooding.

By Monday morning, the Florida Division of Emergency Management had ordered evacuations for six Florida counties along the state’s west coast.

During a news conference Monday morning, DeSantis urged residents to follow the orders, but emphasized that they don’t have to travel far to be safe.

“You don’t have to evacuate hundreds of miles,” he said. “If you are in areas that are prone to storm surge, you go to areas that are not prone to that. Every province has places you can go. Maybe it’s a friend’s house, maybe it’s a hotel, maybe it’s a shelter.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for:

• Charlotte County, especially in waterfront areas along the Gulf, Charlotte Harbor, and the Myakka and Peace rivers

• Hillsborough County

• Pasco County, especially those living in low-lying areas or manufactured homes, mobile homes or RVs

• Pinellas County and its residential health care facilities are located in three specific county zones

Voluntary evacuations are in effect for:

• Manatee County and Sarasota County, where residents are told to implement evacuation plans — whether that means staying with a friend or family member on higher ground or leaving the area completely

To find out if you live in an evacuation area, click here.

Milton arrives days after Helene

Hurricane Milton comes just over a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a monstrous Category 4 storm, causing at least 20 deaths in Florida alone.

During a news conference Monday afternoon, FEMA noted that the agency will not yet divert personnel already working in areas affected by Hurricane Helene into Milton’s path.

After making landfall with 140 mph winds, Helene moved inland across the southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing widespread destruction. After the storm, Florida’s infrastructure and emergency services are stretched thin.

Read more from Yahoo News: Helene shows that in the age of climate change, hurricanes don’t just destroy coastlines

Active hurricane season

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but the peak of increased activity is usually from August to October. According to NOAA, a “typical” Atlantic hurricane season will usually see about fourteen named storms, “seven of which become hurricanes and three of which become major hurricanes.”

By early October, eight hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Ocean, with Milton becoming the thirteenth storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. As CNN notes, hurricane season is ahead of the expected schedule. Normally, the 13th storm of the season wouldn’t hit until October 25.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that FEMA did not have the resources to get through the season. President Biden said last week that Congress may need to pass a supplemental spending bill in the coming months to help fund states’ recovery efforts.