This browser does not support the Video element.
FLORIDA - The time to prepare for Milton is essentially over as the second major hurricane in as many weeks continues barreling toward Florida, where it’s expected to unleash catastrophic destruction upon landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning with powerful winds, a deadly storm surge and flooding rain.
HURRICANE MILTON LATEST UPDATE: LOCATION l PATH l IMPACTS
***MILTON TRACKER LIVE: Watch the video player above for coverage on the hurricane.
Millions of Florida residents have spent the last several days preparing for the potentially historic storm’s onslaught, making sure hurricane kits are stocked, boarding up homes and businesses, and making sure gas tanks are full ahead of the impending disaster.
Tens of thousands of people living along Florida’s coast or in other low-lying, flood-prone areas have also been told to flee in what has been called the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Hurricane Milton latest: Millions brace for storm
Millions in Florida are bracing for a potentially catastrophic punch from Hurricane Milton. Connor Hansen joins FOX 5 NY from Tampa.
Here's everything you need to know about Hurricane Milton, including its location, projected path and impacts on Florida.
Milton location: Where is the hurricane now?
As of the latest advisory from the NHC, Hurricane Milton is located less than 200 miles southwest of Tampa and was moving off to the northeast at 17 mph.
Current info on Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
Hurricane Milton remains hundreds of miles off the coast of Florida, but deadly impacts are possible throughout the day on Wednesday.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Hurricane Milton forecast for Florida
Hurricane Milton will likely remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Florida's west coast, forecasters say. FOX 5 NY's Mike Woods has the details.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) says it’s concerned that "several tornadoes are likely" across parts of the central and southern Florida Peninsula in association with the hurricane, and already a Tornado Watch has been issued in preparation for that threat.
Several Tornado Warnings have already been issued as of Wednesday morning, and those will continue throughout the day and well into the evening and overnight hours.
This graphic shows active Tornado Watches and Severe Thunderstorm Watches. (FOX Weather)
The SPC says as Milton’s rain bands continue to flow into Florida, supercell thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, including strong tornadoes (EF-2 or higher), are likely to develop.
Projected path of Hurricane Milton 2024
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Category 4 hurricane with winds of 145 mph, and the storm is expected to remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall.
The forecast cone for Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
When is Milton hitting Florida?
According to forecasters, Milton will likely remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Florida's west coast later Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.
Milton spaghetti models
Spaghetti forecast models for Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
Florida hurricane: Impacts
Storm surge forecasts along the central western coast are predicting 10-15 feet of water topped with devastating waves driven by hurricane-force winds. Those levels — significantly higher than the damage wrought just last month by Hurricane Helene – would surpass anything seen in over a century in the Tampa Bay area.
The NHC has lowered the forecast storm surge levels in Tampa Bay, but with the current storm surge forecast of 8-12 feet, the destruction could be catastrophic if that comes to fruition. Charlotte Harbor is also forecast to see a storm surge of up to 12 feet.
On the state's east coast, a storm surge of up to 5 feet is possible from Sebastian Inlet northward to the Florida-Georgia state line.
But even after landfall, damaging winds are expected to track across the central Florida Peninsula.
Aside from the life-threatening storm surge, Milton is forecast to bring wind speeds well over 100 mph around the eyewall where the hurricane makes landfall. That includes the Tampa area, which has potential wind gusts over 95 mph or more at landfall.
Power outage forecast during Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
Milton is forecast to maintain hurricane strength even through its trek toward the state's Atlantic coast, with Hurricane Warnings covering 11 million, including the Orlando area and along the east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach.
Storm surge will also be felt along the Atlantic coast of Florida from the Space Coast to the First Coast. This includes cities such as Daytona Beach, St. Augustine and Jacksonville Beach.
Rainfall totals will reach 8–12 inches along Milton's path, with isolated totals reaching 18 inches. And Milton will present a threat of several tornadoes even ahead of landfall.
Tornado in Florida today
A live camera from the Florida Department of Transportation spotted a confirmed tornado on the ground Wednesday morning in South Florida as Hurricane Milton barreled toward the state.
Tornado in Florida today captured as Hurricane Milton impacts state: VIDEO
A live camera from the Florida Department of Transportation spotted a confirmed tornado on the ground in South Florida as Hurricane Milton barreled toward the state.
Tampa evacuation zones
As Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida, many Tampa Bay Area residents are preparing to evacuate.
Click HERE for more from our sister station, FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
Hurricane categories
What is a Category 1 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 74-95 mph is considered to be a Category 1 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 1 storm is the weakest of all hurricanes but is stronger than a tropical storm.
What is a Category 2 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph is considered to be a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 2 storm is stronger than a Category 1 and is just one status below what is considered to be a major hurricane.
What is a Category 3 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 111-129 mph is considered to be a Category 3 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Once a hurricane strengthens into Category 3 storm it is considered to be a major hurricane.
What is a Category 4 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130-156 mph is considered to be a Category 4 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 4 cyclone is considered to be a major hurricane and is only one class below a Category 5.
What is a Category 5 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of at least 157 mph is considered to be a Category 5 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 5 is the strongest a hurricane can get on the scale, as there is not a Category 6 rating.
When does hurricane season end?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. August, September and October are considered to be the peak months, with more than 85% of tropical systems forming during the three-month period.
FOX Weather helped contribute to this report.