these are the live pictures calmish now but they're expecting wind speeds of 165 miles per hour and storm surges up to four metres high. homes and businesses are being boarded up in preparation with the us government telling residents to prepare for the "catastrophic" impact. iam i am live in miami. we are at an evacuation centre where people from the south west coast of florida have arrived to write out the storm, this as final preparations are under way across the gulf coast. lam in i am in haifa on a day were dolens— i am in haifa on a day were dozens of— i am in haifa on a day were dozens of has below rockets are fired _ dozens of has below rockets are fired into — dozens of has below rockets are fired into northern israel and on a — fired into northern israel and on a day— fired into northern israel and on a day were president biden of the — on a day were president biden of the united states has been speaking to the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu ——

hezbollah — the next conservative leader will be a choice between robertjenrick and kemi badenoch afterjames cleverly is eliminated from the contest. we'll have live reaction from westminster. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. let's start in florida which is bracing itself for what could be the worst storm in a hundred years. there have been huge traffic jams across the state, as more than five million people respond to evacuation orders ahead of hurricane milton. we'll be live on the ground in a moment, but let me show you... these pictures from space, officials still think it could double in size before the monster storm makes landfall. this is the live tracking shot from the tracking centre, already brushing past mexico

where he calls large—scale flooding. these are the pictures on the florida peninsula because there is a relative calm, but they are expecting wind speeds of 155 mph and 3—4 metre high storm surges. let's start this hour by going to our colleague in miami. let's speak to sumi somaskanda who is in miami in florida. give mea give me a sense of what it is like where you are. at give me a sense of what it is like where you are.— like where you are. at this hour you _ like where you are. at this hour you can _ like where you are. at this hour you can probably - like where you are. at this hour you can probably tell| hour you can probably tell the winds are picking up here. that is remarkable because we are about three and half hour drive away from with the storm is expected to make an impact later today. we have seen officials warning for the course of the day you could see tornadoes triggered by the storm and indeed, our colleagues have reporting the fact that there have been tornadoes cited a little east of here on interstate 75, a major highway. we are seeing the winds and heavy rains expected here in miami later today, but i will tell you where we are now. we are at an

evacuation centre and we spoke to someone who evacuated from the south west of florida earlier he told us this was the closest centre to where he lives, he lives in a mobile home in homestead, florida and he came here because this was the closest open one to him. inside we are not able to film because they want to make sure they want to respect the privacy of those who have chosen to come here, but they have caught set up, they have food, air conditioning and internet for people set up here and the people are expecting to write out the storm here. but of course as we know, many people are fleeing from across the gulf coast from the path of the gulf coast from the path of the storm and some are choosing to stay. bracing for hurricane milton. expected to bring deed to storm surges— expected to bring deed to storm surges in— expected to bring deed to storm surges in winds across the

florida _ surges in winds across the florida gulf coast.- florida gulf coast. time is runnina florida gulf coast. time is running out _ florida gulf coast. time is running out before - florida gulf coast. time is running out before the - florida gulf coast. time is i running out before the storm makes landfall.— makes landfall. florida has been warned _ makes landfall. florida has been warned and _ makes landfall. florida has been warned and people i makes landfall. florida has i been warned and people had living there have been preparing and leaving in the biggest state evacuation effort in years ahead what forecasters say could be the worst storm to hit in a century. it’s say could be the worst storm to hit in a century.— hit in a century. it's been re hit in a century. it's been pretty crazy. _ hit in a century. it's been pretty crazy, even - hit in a century. it's been| pretty crazy, even people hit in a century. it's been - pretty crazy, even people from tampa and from florida have told me that this is not normal. . told me that this is not normal-— told me that this is not normal. . , ., ., , normal. , really anxious, we have two _ normal. , really anxious, we have two young _ normal. , really anxious, we have two young kids. - normal. , really anxious, we have two young kids. it's - have two young kids. it's scary _ parts of the state are now eerily quiet apart from the warning sirens. this time, even some of the most hurricane hardened residents have heeded the orders to leave. there's a lot of locals, people that have lived in tampa throughout their entire lives, and they usually stay during hurricane season. they'll tough it out. but even those people look at what could happen here with hurricane milton, and they're getting out of dodge.

they're finding any way to evacuate. milton has already brushed past mexico's yucatan peninsula, where there's been coastal flooding and power outages, but the damage has been described as minor. since then, the storm has strengthened over the warm waters of the gulf of mexico. it's expected to double in size before hitting florida head on, striking near the city of tampa — an area home to more than 3 million people. from ten tampa bay. this is a weather impact alert. we just got the very latest in from the national hurricane center. they are now forecasting 10 to 15ft of surge for pinellas county. whoa. it's the storm surges that are causing the most concern. and all this as debris still litters the streets from hurricane helenejust two weeks ago, itself the deadliest hurricane to hit the us mainland in nearly 20 years. more than 200 people were killed. we always tell folks to run from the water, hide from the wind.

you can really shelter from very strong hurricane force winds, but you can't really shelter from water. and that's why it's imperative people either evacuate vertically or inland or ideally both. and i think that might be it for this week. it isn'tjust homes that have been evacuated. tourist attractions in the sunshine state have been taking precautions, too. been taking precautions, too. airports have been closed, but airports have been closed, but time to prepare is running out. time to prepare is running out. phil mccann, bbc news. phil mccann, bbc news. with time ticking down with time ticking down hurricane milton makes impacts hurricane milton makes impacts somewhere south of sarasota somewhere south of sarasota along the gulf coast of florida along the gulf coast of florida we've seen a massive we've seen a massive preparation operation in preparation operation in florida. 0n the other side of florida. 0n the other side of this evacuation centre earlier this evacuation centre earlier in the morning we were in the morning we were reporting on hundreds, dozens reporting on hundreds, dozens of trucks, linesmen, people of trucks, linesmen, people dealing with downed power lines dealing with downed power lines and outages and cutting trees and outages and cutting trees and outages and cutting trees and outages and cutting trees and moving them out of the way. and moving them out of the way. of course they will be blocking of course they will be blocking of course they will be blocking arose in some areas, florida of course they will be blocking arose in some areas, florida

preparing for all of this. preparing for all of this. ron desantis held a press conference earlier where he talked about some of those preparations under way, the florida national guard deployed here across the coast here to help. hurricane milton is heading our way. it will arrive either late tonight or early tomorrow morning. we are bracing and are prepared to receive a major hit. we're facing this with the seriousness it deserves, but also with the determination that we will get through this. folks here at the eoc and our first responders throughout the west coast of florida have been working nonstop now for weeks to prepare and respond to hurricane helene and then now to prepare and respond to this new major hurricane. of course the appeals we continue to cure as time ticks

down is for people to make sure they are on higher ground and safely out of the way of the storm. i spoke to friends in tampa a short while ago who are writing out the storm, they are away from the shoreline and they said they have bought sandbags and plenty of supplies, batteries and have a generator, hurricane supplies with a flashlight and plenty of food to write out the storm. and of course,

food to write out the storm. and of cour they will be pretty soon they will be waiting and hunkering down here in miami which is not expected to be hit hard in the path of the storm but there will be eight heavy winds and rain here and the key is to wait until the storm passes. as you know, this is a huge storm at the moment, measurements a while ago at 140 miles across, about 225 km. they will have to wait to see when the storm passes and that they are in safety as well before they can head out to make sure they can clear some of the debris, something we heard from the governor earlier. but you are right, all of us here will hunker down as the storm approaches here. thank you very much again. i just want to bring you the live pictures variety of feeds coming into us, key west of all. because increasingly, hour after hour the weather beginning to close in, looking pretty stormy there, the winds picking up on the top of those

trees there. let me show you some other pictures. you're really getting a sense of it. fort myers first of all and again, that is the picture that looks pretty clear only about an hour or so looks pretty clear only about an hour orso ago looks pretty clear only about an hour or so ago and the storm edges and in the road bridges one of our guests said was so vital in the coming hours, one of them going into tampa and you could see the weather really closing in. but the storm is about 200 miles out. i want to pause for a moment and give you a sense of what that storm is like. we have had officials actually fly through the eye of that storm. have a look at this and see these pictures in the next few seconds. i will pause up the microphones up.

i will iwillgrab my i will grab my phone really quick. welp. damn.- i will grab my phone really quick. welp. damn. does the officials from _ quick. welp. damn. does the officials from the _ quick. welp. damn. does the officials from the national - officials from the national oceanic and atmospheric agency as they fly through the eye of the storm collecting data and you get a sense the way the plane it is battered around, the size of it and the force and the power of the storm and of course all of the officials from the president downwards have been saying. let's speak to the mayor of sarasota, liz alpert. welcome here to bbc news. is this as tough as he gets dealing with something of this magnitude?— dealing with something of this mannitude? ~ , , ~ ., magnitude? absolutely. we have not had anything _ magnitude? absolutely. we have not had anything like _ magnitude? absolutely. we have not had anything like this - magnitude? absolutely. we have not had anything like this in - not had anything like this in 100 years in sarasota and i have been in this area for 50 years and i have not seen

anything like it, i can tell you that. anything like it, i can tell you that-— anything like it, i can tell you that. anything like it, i can tell ou that. , ., ., ., you that. give me an idea of the sorts — you that. give me an idea of the sorts of— you that. give me an idea of the sorts of preparations - you that. give me an idea of| the sorts of preparations you have been trying to organise. here at the city we have all of our first responders in here at the city we have all of ourfirst responders in place, all of our officers are on duty until the storm is over, our public works crew are on site, ready to be dispatched once it leaves, but prior to this, we have the debris from hurricane helene that was lining all of the sides of the roads, very, very disturbing and sad for people. but we also knew that was going to be a danger, so we worked really hard to get as much of that hauled away as we could, but we could not get to it all, but hopefully what we did accomplish will help. how

many people. _ did accomplish will help. how many people, roughly, - did accomplish will help. how many people, roughly, are in evacuation zones and mi rate that you yourself are currently talking to me from one of those evacuation zones? is that right? i evacuation zones? is that riuht? ., evacuation zones? is that ri i ht? ., ., ., right? i am in the downtown sarasota- — right? i am in the downtown sarasota. we _ right? i am in the downtown sarasota. we are _ right? i am in the downtown sarasota. we are a - right? i am in the downtown sarasota. we are a little - sarasota. we are a little higher and i sarasota. we are a little higherand i am in sarasota. we are a little higher and i am in a sarasota. we are a little higherand i am in a high—rise on the ninth floor so i feel fairly confident where i am is going to be fine and in fact, some of the people evacuated came to some other places downtown, but the people on the barrier islands and the people are in the low—lying coastal areas are the ones with the biggest problem. is areas are the ones with the biggest problem.— areas are the ones with the biggest problem. is it too late now to make _ biggest problem. is it too late now to make a _ biggest problem. is it too late now to make a move? - biggest problem. is it too late now to make a move? we - biggest problem. is it too late | now to make a move? we have heard of difficulties on the road, people running out of gas, what is your best advice as we are talking now? he. gas, what is your best advice as we are talking now? no, it is not as we are talking now? no, it is rrot too _ as we are talking now? no, it is not too late. _ as we are talking now? no, it is not too late. the _ as we are talking now? no, it| is not too late. the conditions have not deteriorated enough yet, but it is, the time is

getting short so you can go. i heard the governor talk about the roads are not as crowded as they were, but you can go to someone nearby possibly, or a shelter. somewhere that you can get out of the way of the storm surge. get out of the way of the storm surue. , , ., get out of the way of the storm sur. e, g , ., ., get out of the way of the storm sure. , , . ., ., surge. just a final thought, i was talking _ surge. just a final thought, i was talking to _ surge. just a final thought, i was talking to a _ surge. just a final thought, i was talking to a radio - surge. just a final thought, i was talking to a radio host l surge. just a final thought, i l was talking to a radio host on the programme an hour ago or so and we were making the point, so many people in florida, as you know, our hurricane veterans, but he made the point that this one is different. isn't it? it that this one is different. isn't it?— isn't it? it absolutely is. this is very _ isn't it? it absolutely is. this is very different - isn't it? it absolutely is. i this is very different from anything we have seen and when you combine that much storm surge with 155 mile—per—hour winds and rain on top of that,

that may be another 12 inches or so, that may be another 12 inches orso, it that may be another 12 inches or so, it is going to be really, really devastating. so i am hoping for the best for our community and hoping everybody will stay safe, hang in there and we will all help each other on the other side and try to be patient with recovery. and try to be patient with recovery-— and try to be patient with recove . ~ , ., ~ , ., recovery. liz alpert, thank you for taking _ recovery. liz alpert, thank you for taking the _ recovery. liz alpert, thank you for taking the time _ recovery. liz alpert, thank you for taking the time to - recovery. liz alpert, thank you for taking the time to speak. recovery. liz alpert, thank you for taking the time to speak to j for taking the time to speak to us and good luck in the coming hours. 0n the programme we will talk with the latest on the phone call between president biden and netanyahu on the middle east and live in westminster as three candidates become to on the race to become the next conservative leader. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

you are watching bbc news. let's turn to the middle east. he was presidentjoe biden has spoken to the israeli prime minister to discuss the conflict between israel and hezbollah. this picture has been released by the office of netanyahu, vice president, harris was also part of that phone call. let's go lie to our chief international correspondent who is in haifa for us. i will come to that phone call because it is incredibly important in a moment, butjust give us the latest on the ground because there have been more rocket attacks and more deaths. there has been a _ attacks and more deaths. there has been a lot _ attacks and more deaths. there has been a lot of— attacks and more deaths. there has been a lot of rockets - attacks and more deaths. there has been a lot of rockets fired l has been a lot of rockets fired from neighbouring lebanon into northern israel including haifa bay where we are now. we are about 30 km away from the lebanese border and the israeli defense forces said about 40 projectiles were fired into this area and we can see just behind us the iron dome in

action, intercepting most, but we also saw the plumes of smoke rising from the ground because some of them did get through. there were also heavy barrages fired in areas closer to the lebanese border including the biggest city where there were two casualties, a couple walking their dog, it is largely deserted, but they were killed in that barrage. we've also heard in the last hour that fire crews have had to be in action because some of the missiles orfragments of missiles or fragments of them have actually created, where they have landed, lighting fires which had to be put out. let's turn to that phone call i mentioned in the introduction. usually important in terms of what lies ahead because so much focus on how israel will respond to those attacks from iran, are you hearing anything from where you are about the content of the call? i

from where you are about the content of the call?— content of the call? i don't think there _ content of the call? i don't think there is _ content of the call? i don't think there is any - content of the call? i don't think there is any secret i content of the call? i don't i think there is any secret about what the top issue of the agenda and that is what are the possible targets for the widely expected retaliatory strike by israel against iran after that barrage of 180 ballistic missiles. this telephone call shrouded in politics as well because today, the defence minister of israel uf gallant was supposed to meet his counterpart lloyd austin to go over the targets and at the 11th hour prime minister netanyahu said no, you will not go to washington, you will not go to washington, you will not go anywhere until i speak to president biden. he wants to be in control and ensure it is israel who decides the targets, albeit in consultation with united states, but he did not want his defence minister going to washington until both prime minister netanyahu spoke tojoe biden who he has not spoken to in weeks. it is very clear the

relationship has come under immense strain and you have talked on the programme about the leaks from bob woodward's latest book although the quotes were denied by the white house. thank you very much, very interesting talking about how that phone call, the backdrop shrouded in politics because the office of netanyahu also releasing the last hours of the news that he'd actually spoken to donald trump last week so a very interesting development there, given what we have coming up in november. that, the latest on that phone call between p israeli prime minister and the us president. here in the uk, there's been a shock in the race to be the new leader of the conservative party here in the uk. the former foreign and home secretary james cleverly has been knocked out. in the final secret vote by tory mps, he came last with 37 votes, beaten by kemi badenoch, who got 42 votes, and robertjenrick, who was one vote behind her with 41.

now the two candidates widely viewed as being the most right—wing of the trio will go head to head. the winner is decided in a vote amongst conservative party members, with the final result on november the 2nd. and we can speak to ben wright now. wow, not a huge amount of people had expected this one. nobody here was predicting this earlier in the day, but the history of the tory party is one of leadership concepts that continue to surprise and cause upset over years. this is no exception. yesterday the great shock was james cleverly leapfrogging over everyone else lea pfrogging over everyone else to leapfrogging over everyone else to take top position in the third round poll. it looked like he was a she went to get to the final vote amongst tory mps, yet today when the results were read out by the chair of the 1922 committee, there were gaspsin the 1922 committee, there were gasps in the room when it was revealed that james cleverly had been knocked out and that you going through our the

former business secretary kemi badenoch and robertjenrick the former immigration minister, both candidates of the right. they both have a heckuva job to do because the tory party in july do because the tory party in july suffered its worst defeat in parliamentary history, the rebuilding job is going to be enormous and cleverly pitched himself as the best communicator in the race but in the end it was not good enough and these are the two that will go to a vote of tory party members. a few moments ago kemi badenoch gave her rude insult —— reaction. badenoch gave her rude insult -- reaction-— -- reaction. absolutely delighted _ -- reaction. absolutely delighted to _ -- reaction. absolutely delighted to have i -- reaction. absolutely| delighted to have talked -- reaction. absolutely i delighted to have talked at this stage of the contest and i want — this stage of the contest and i want to— this stage of the contest and i want to thank all of the people who supported me especially those — who supported me especially those who are out campaigning and all— those who are out campaigning and all of— those who are out campaigning and all of my volunteers, it shows _ and all of my volunteers, it shows people have a lot of faith — shows people have a lot of faith in _ shows people have a lot of faith in my approach which is about— faith in my approach which is about renewal and i think that is why— about renewal and i think that is why i— about renewal and i think that is why i am winning at the moment _ is why i am winning at the moment-— is why i am winning at the moment. .,, . a moment. robert jenrick said he offered concrete _ moment. robert jenrick said he offered concrete policies - moment. robert jenrick said he offered concrete policies and i offered concrete policies and notjust platitudes, but that was a bit of a dick? it notjust platitudes, but that was a bit of a dick?- was a bit of a dick? it is the matter- _ was a bit of a dick? it is the matter. people _ was a bit of a dick? it is the

matter. people are - was a bit of a dick? it is the matter. people are hearing| was a bit of a dick? it is the i matter. people are hearing what i'm matter. people are hearing what i'm saying — matter. people are hearing what i'm saying and think my approach is right, start with principles and then policy we need — principles and then policy we need to— principles and then policy we need to unite behind conservatives and that means something to the country, throwing out policy without routeing in valleys does not work — routeing in valleys does not work that's what we saw the last — work that's what we saw the last election, we economic the same — last election, we economic the same mistake again. is last election, we economic the same mistake again.— same mistake again. is this auoin to same mistake again. is this going to be _ same mistake again. is this going to be a _ same mistake again. is this going to be a scrap - same mistake again. is this going to be a scrap on i same mistake again. is this going to be a scrap on the i going to be a scrap on the right of the party dominated by immigration, the irony of the european convention robert jenrick saying he wants to be a central issue of the campaign? i'm not fighting his campaign, fighting — i'm not fighting his campaign, fighting mine and what i talked about— fighting mine and what i talked about when launching my campaign is we need to talk about— campaign is we need to talk about everything, we need to talk on — about everything, we need to talk on the system which i think— talk on the system which i think it's _ talk on the system which i think it's broken, later are having _ think it's broken, later are having problems because they are working with a broken system _ are working with a broken system only to adapt and change our economy, let's get more money— our economy, let's get more money so — our economy, let's get more money so we can spend it on defence. _ money so we can spend it on defence, let's get more people out to— defence, let's get more people out to work, let's talk about the nhs, _ out to work, let's talk about the nhs, it cannotjust be about— the nhs, it cannotjust be about one part of the immigration policy, we need to lower— immigration policy, we need to lower immigration, that is part of the — lower immigration, that is part of the story, butjust lower immigration, that is part of the story, but just talking about — of the story, but just talking about the echr is going to shut

down _ about the echr is going to shut down the — about the echr is going to shut down the conversation that we need _ down the conversation that we need to— down the conversation that we need to have with the entire country _ need to have with the entire count . ., �* , need to have with the entire count . ., v ., need to have with the entire count . . �*, ., �* need to have with the entire count. . �*, ., �* ., country. that's what i'm about. interesting _ country. that's what i'm about. interesting listening _ country. that's what i'm about. interesting listening to - country. that's what i'm about. interesting listening to that. i interesting listening to that. she repeatedly referred to principles, tell me more about what we think that is and what is likely to be the key issues now between now and the membership actually deciding. there is quite a difference between the two candidates, robertjenrick and kemi badenoch on how they are perching thejob of badenoch on how they are perching the job of rebuilding. robert has been more explicit and precise about some of the policies he thinks there should be a cap on immigration leaving the echr, kemi badenoch has talked in broader principles on where she feels the direction of conservatism should be and she feels the party should not be in a rush to try and identify itself through a policy offering, but they're still quite a few weeks to go before the result. the ballot opens for members on the 10th of october and closes on the

30th, that is a lot of scrutiny and hustings and interviews that both candidates are going to have to do to try and explain and flesh out their plans for the party. i wonder if kemi badenoch in particular will have to sharpen on some of the policy offerings that she thinks will start to build the tory party again. it will be a fascinating contest and frankly, nobody after today is predicting what will happen. you are absolutely right about that. thank you very much for that. thank you very much for that. those are the issues in the weeks ahead. let's turn to the weeks ahead. let's turn to theissues the weeks ahead. let's turn to the issues and hours ahead. florida, of course, waiting for that hurricane to hit. we think later on tonight. let me show you some pictures to end this half—hour. that's the picture from key west. the weather already closing in. we note wind speeds have dropped a bit, it is a whisker away from a category five storm. more here on bbc news in the coming hours. hello there.

there's been a lot of cloud and some rain around again today, but over the next couple of days, things are going to look and feel a bit different because it will be turning drier, but it's also getting colder. and we started to see that colder air arriving across northern areas as a northerly wind is picking up, and that northerly wind is going to blow down across the whole of the country and push this rain and drizzle southwards overnight. following that, there will be a few showers — they could be wintry over the tops of the scottish mountains. but with the clearer skies in scotland, we're more likely to have a frost. could be —2 or —3. further south, where there's more cloud, temperatures are going to be held a bit higher, and that cloud still producing some rainfirst thing. that'll move away, and then we're all in the same boat for tomorrow — sunny spells, many places dry. a few showers coming in anywhere exposed to that north to north—westerly wind, which will again be strongest around those north sea coasts. and here, it will feel particularly cold out there. temperatures maybe not changing too much in scotland and northern ireland, but for southern parts of england and wales, it's going to be much cooler than it's been so far this week.

and that colder air is in place again as we head into friday. we lose the northerly wind. we pick up a westerly wind, actually, which will bring cloud and some showery rain into scotland, northern ireland. england and wales, it's looking generally dry. the winds will be lighter here. could be a touch of frost, though, early on across england and wales. and with that cold air still in place, temperatures aren't changing too much — typically 11 or 12 degrees. so a chilly end to the week, and it's going to be quite cool, i think, into the weekend as well. this area of low pressure is going to continue to bring some rain into scotland, but we could see this rain pushing into northern ireland as well and eventually northern parts of england. to the south, there may be a bit of sunshine, but there could be some showers too. and following on from that rain, there could be a few wintry showers in northern scotland as that northerly wind briefly returns. so, cold again for northern scotland — 7 or 8 degrees here. further south, well, we could reach 13 or 14 degrees. that wetter weather will slide away, and in turn, we're going to find a ridge of high pressure building in for the second half of the weekend. that's really

settling things down. it will be a chilly start again. the winds are going to be light on sunday. there should be quite a bit of sunshine around. it's going to be a dry day. a bit of mist and fog possible across some western areas early in the morning. those temperatures not changing a great deal — again, typically a cool 11 or 12.

this is bbc news. the headlines: hurricane milton, the biggest storm to hit florida in a century,

heads towards the coast. five million people are urged to get out of the area. these are the pictures charting that hurricane. we're expecting wind speeds of 155 miles per hour. we will bring you the very latest on the ground. homes and businesses are being boarded up in preparation, with the us government telling residents to prepare for the "catastrophic" impact. 0ur mac other headlines... our other headlines... rocket fire from lebanon kills two people in northern israel as the un says a quarter of lebanon is now under evacuation orders. and the next conservative leader will be either robertjenrick or kemi badenoch afterjames cleverly is eliminated from the contest. let's catch up with all the sports

headline of the evening.