The ninth hurricane of the season, predicted to drive northeast across the Gulf of Mexico, has ramped up considerably in strength, topping the scale used to measure the force of tropical cyclones.

Hurricane Milton is likely to drop in strength before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, after battering the northern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula this afternoon and tomorrow morning.

However, it remains forecast to strike Florida as a major Category 3 hurricane, according to the United States National Hurricane Centre.

As of 6pm, Milton had attained wind strengths of 180mph, putting it at the top of the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

A Category 3 storm packs wind speeds of 111mph to 129mph, with significant areas of Florida threatened with storm surge, intense rainfall and winds capable of downing trees and heavily damaging buildings.

Milton is projected by the NHC to cross the Florida peninsula on Thursday, weakening after landfall.

It is expected to head east into the Atlantic next, with significantly downgraded winds.

The 6pm update on the storm showed its winds likely to hit 175mph by the same time tomorrow.

Milton was forecast to drop to wind speeds of 85mph in 72 hours, when it will have emerged in the Atlantic, and fall to 65mph in 96 hours, or four days’ time.

The threat to Florida comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene inflicting heavy damage across the Southeastern US late last month, after coming ashore as the deadliest storm on record to hit Florida’s Big Bend region.