Alarming simulation shows how destructive record-breaking Hurricane Milton will become

A simulation has shown the terrifying destructive potential that Hurricane Milton could unleash.

When an extreme weather event or natural disaster unfolds, it can be difficult to comprehend the scale.

The hurricane currently heading towards the Florida Peninsula has been reclassified as being a hurricane of category 5 strength.

Millions of people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas ahead of the storm making landfall.

In a warning issued out to residents in vulnerable areas, the National Hurricane Center warned of an 'extremely life-threatening situation'.

Weather specialist John Cangialosi warned: "Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida."

This prediction was rendered into a terrifying simulation by the Weather Channel.

The words 'storm surge' don't do justice to the power the simulation illustrates.

The simulation shows just how destructive the hurricane could be (The Weather Channel)

The Weather Channel has previously released simulations of Hurricane Milton,showing the destructive potential of the event.

Another video from 2018 about category five hurricane Michael has also resurfaced, and also demonstrates the power of a storm surge.

In the video, a reporter can be seen standing on a grey circle surrounded by a digital rendering of a suburban neighbourhood.

The water level is then shown rising around the reporter, who explains the impact that this level could have.

As the level rises, the digital homes and cars around him are engulfed by the water.

Perhaps more alarmingly, the depth of the water can also been seen towering above the reporter as it gets to the maximum depth shown, some nine feet of flood water.

Explaining the different levels, the reporter said: "Imagine three feet of storm surge right here. Now if this amount of water catches you by surprise it's too late to evacuate.

In the simulation, the water rises up to nine feet (The Weather Channel)

"Cars are floating around and floating away, there's large objects in here that could knock things down with a battering ram like force.

"There's no way to evacuate, but we know there's going to be places with more than three feet."

The reporter then raises his hands as the water level goes up to six feet.

"This completely floods out the first floor of homes and businesses, the only way to escape that is to move to the higher floor of the building."

He then goes on to explain that some places have seen forecast for even higher levels.

"Unfortunately there are going to be places that get more than six feet," he says.

The water then rises to nine feet, with the reporter saying ominously: "This is practically not survivable, so please follow the advice of your local officials when they ask you to evacuate."

Some predictions have indicated that Hurricane Milton could see storm surges as high as 15ft in some regions of Florida.