Rare floods and destructive winds.. Florida prepares for the “catastrophic” Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton is heading towards Florida’s west coast, packing strong winds that threaten to demolish homes, threatening rare, once-in-a-century flooding in some of the state’s fastest-growing counties.

Hurricane Milton’s winds decreased slightly to 155 miles (250 kilometers) per hour, making it a Category 4 on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale, according to Bloomberg News.

Ocean levels in Tampa Bay are expected to rise by as much as 15 feet, flooding cities and towns.

The US National Hurricane Center said in a warning issued at 8 a.m. New York time that the hurricane will also cause heavy rain, expected to reach 18 inches in some areas.

Power outages are expected to last for days or even weeks under these conditions.