The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center indicates Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying and is expected to reach Category 5 later today.

Current maximum sustained winds are 155 MPH, as measured by Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft, making it a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Milton is forecast to become a category 5 hurricane later today over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Near the coast, storm surge is expected to be accompanied by large and destructive waves, the NHC warned.

“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline,” the advisory added.

Rainfall, as a result of the hurricane, is expected to range from 5 to 10 inches, with localized totals up to 15 inches, across portions of the Florida Peninsula and the Keys through Wednesday night.

There is considerable risk of flash, urban and areal flooding, along with the potential for moderate to major river flooding.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Leslie continues to weaken with no threat of hazard indicated and post-tropical cyclone Kirk still causing large swells and rip current potential along the Eastern U.S. Seaboard.