Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has updated its travel advice for the US ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton reverted to Category 5 status on Tuesday, October 8 after having weakened slightly to Category 4 earlier.
Millions of people across Florida are under varying evacuation orders, with some being mandatory. Officials predict Tuesday to be the last window to evacuate before the storm strikes.
On Monday, Ireland's DFA said: "There is an increasing risk of life-threatening strom surge, damaging winds, and floods across the Florida Peninsula.
"Irish citizens in the area should follow any advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so."
The DFA directed people to stay updated on evacuation notices via FloridaDisaster.org.
Meanwhile, the Consulate General of Ireland in Miami, which represents Ireland in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, has been posting regular updates about the incoming hurricane on social media.
The area where the office of the Irish Consulate in Miami is located is under a Tropical Storm Warning and a voluntary evacuation order as of Tuesday evening.
In a post on Monday morning, the Consulate said Hurricane Milton will impact much of Florida.
"Please follow the advice of local authorities, including regarding evacuations, follow expert official advice & stay safe," the Consulate added.
Attention Irish citizens in Florida: Hurricane #Milton is now a Category 4. Its projected path will impact much of Florida. Please follow the advice of local authorities, including regarding evacuations, follow expert official advice & stay safe. See: https://t.co/y5vLqjitNL pic.twitter.com/E4hU5DNL3B
— Irish Consulate Miami (@IrelandCGMiami) October 7, 2024
In an update issued on Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service - National Hurricane Center Miami said: "Milton is expected to maintain major hurricane strength while it moves across the Gulf of Mexico and approaches the west coast of Florida.
"Stronger vertical shear is expected to increase in about 24 hours, but even if this causes some weakening, it will likely not be enough to keep Milton from being an extremely dangerous hurricane when it reaches shore."
Quoting the National Hurricane Center, the NWS said later on Tuesday that "Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida."
With the sun setting on the now Category 5 Hurricane #Milton, we'll offer these words from the @NHC_Atlantic forecast discussion...
"This is a very serious situation and residents in Florida should closely follow orders from their local emergency management officials.… pic.twitter.com/NVI3iJoNLg
— National Weather Service (@NWS) October 8, 2024
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