"It's just an incredible, incredible, incredible hurricane," warned the veteranSomebody with a lot of experience in a job. Also used to refer to former soldiers. weather forecaster.

John Morales paused, his voice choked with emotion. "I apologise: this is just... horrific."

What most alarmed him was the speed with which HurricaneA storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction. Milton gained strength. On Sunday morning it was at 60 mph; 36 hours later it had increased to 180 mph.¹ Experts are today saying it could be one of the most destructive storms on record, even though the forecast is that it will have dropped to a Category 4 storm when it reaches land late tonight.

Hurricanes are graded from 1 to 5. Category 3 up means there is a serious threat to life. Category 5 means a speed of at least 157 mph.

It looked as if a Category 6 might have to be invented for Milton. This morning, it is a Category 5 storm. While it is expected to weaken before hitting land, it will grow twice as large, spreading its damaging effects over a much wider area.

The city of Tampa is right in the hurricane's path. Residents in several districts have been told to leave. "I can say this without any dramatisation whatsoever," declared the city's mayor, Jane Castor: "if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die."²

The country's politics are not helping the situation. Florida's governorIn the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states. Ron DeSantis is an allyA country that has agreed to support another one. of Donald Trump and shares his opposition to climate action. He has refused to take calls from vice-president Kamala Harris³ and, according to The Independent, accused her of "politicising storm preparations".

Trump has falsely accused Joe Biden of doing nothing to help victims of Hurricane Helene, which struck two weeks ago. In fact Biden has approved over £100m in aid.⁴

America's National Weather Service (NWS) is among the targets listed in Project 2025. This is a plan put together by Trump's supporters saying what he should do if he is re-elected.

It recommends doing away with public weather forecasts and relying on private companies instead.

It also recommends dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This oversees the NWS and leads climate-change research.

Is extreme weather our most urgent challenge?

Yes: In recent years we have seen devastation across the world caused by hurricanes, flooding, drought and wildfires. Unless we take concerted action now such events are only going to get worse.

No: With weather we can at least take evasive action, like the evacuees from Florida. We face greater threats from war, rogue AIA computer programme that has been designed to think.  and viruses, which could hit us anywhere at any time.

Or... Our most immediate challenge is to stop autocratsA leader who is not bound by constitutional norms or checked by other sources of political authority, like a parliament or the judicial system., who can single-handedly derail attempts to combat climate change and bring peace to the world.  

Veteran - Somebody with a lot of experience in a job. Also used to refer to former soldiers.

Hurricane - A storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction.

Governor - In the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states.

Ally - A country that has agreed to support another one.

AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think. 

Autocrats - A leader who is not bound by constitutional norms or checked by other sources of political authority, like a parliament or the judicial system.