Forecasters downgrade Hurricane Milton to a category 3 storm ahead of Florida landfall

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Weather forecasters downgraded Hurricane Milton from a Category 4 to a Category 3 storm on Wednesday afternoon, just hours before its expected landfall in Florida. The hurricane now has sustained winds of 125 mph, placing it in the Category 3 range, which covers wind speeds between 111 and 129 mph. Milton initially developed into a Category 5 storm early Wednesday morning but had spent most of the day as a Category 4 storm.

Despite the downgrade, the storm's impact on Florida is expected to remain significant. The National Weather Service advised residents to "shelter-in-place" as the hurricane approached. Florida had issued over 50 tornado warnings by 3 p.m., with at least 11 confirmed tornadoes reported, mostly in the Miami area. The warnings highlighted the risk of additional severe weather, including the possibility of more tornadoes.

The shift in hurricane classification has not reduced the urgency for residents to take safety precautions as Milton continues its path toward the state.