Those speeds increased by 95 mph in 24 hours and by 120 mph in 36 hours.  The storm, now about 630 miles from Tampa, rapidly strengthened from Category 2 to 5 in just a few hours Monday. By Tuesday,

As Hurricane Milton intensified on its path toward Florida's Gulf Coast, the strength of the system increased the severity of the storm surge forecast.

The Category 5 Hurricane Milton was expected to grow larger on Tuesday as it threatened Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on its way to Florida, where more than a million people were ordered to evacuate from its path.