Hurricane Milton is expected to double in size before making landfall on Florida’s western coast on Wednesday night. As of late Tuesday morning, it was downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph, just shy of Category 5. After briefly reaching Category 5 on Monday, it weakened but is now intensifying again. Forecasts predict landfall in Tampa on Wednesday night or early Thursday, though exact details remain uncertain.

Meteorologist Christianne Pearce noted that Milton, currently a compact storm, is expected to double in size before landfall, spreading its impacts further. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of a major hurricane status and size expansion as it approaches Florida.

Pearce emphasized the storm’s transition before reaching the coast, where it will weaken slightly but grow larger, increasing the area affected by damaging winds, storm surge, and rainfall. She urged those in evacuation zones to prepare immediately.

Milton is set to be the first hurricane to directly hit Tampa in over 100 years. Social media shows congested highways as residents evacuate. The NHC highlighted a triple threat from Milton: destructive storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and heavy rainfall, urging immediate evacuation for those in the storm surge warning area and preparation for long-duration power outages.