If you believe in the power of prayer, let's pray together for those in the path of Hurricane Milton. Life-threatening storm surges are expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast this week with the arrival of the storm, which was upgraded Monday afternoon into a Category 5 hurricane over the southern Gulf of Mexico.
The storm first strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane by 7 a.m. and by 9 a.m. ET rapidly intensified into a Category 4, the National Hurricane Center said.
In a matter of a few hours Milton "explosively intensified" into a Category 5 hurricane by noon ET. Milton now churns with fierce 175 mph winds, the NHC said in a 2 p.m. ET update. It's located about 105 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 700 miles southwest of Tampa.
The storm is forecast to make landfall Wednesday evening in Florida, which along with the wider southeastern United States continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene. Widespread evacuation orders are underway in Florida.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) both said they will close Wednesday morning in preparation for landfall.
As many as 15 million people are under flood watches across the Florida Peninsula and 11 million are at risk for tropical tornadoes tomorrow and Wednesday.
Let's pray, "Heavenly father who in Jesus stills the storm and calms the frantic heart, bring hope to all who are waiting in uncertainty. Help those who need to evacuate find safe passage, and give courage to endure what cannot be avoided. In You we turn to and trust. In Jesus name. Amen!