Hurricane Milton was downgraded from a dangerous Category 5 storm overnight, but remained a very powerful Category 4 hurricane as it took aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast, which is still reeling from Helene’s record-breaking landfall slightly more than a week ago.

“While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane due to landfall in Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. ET update Tuesday.

Fifty-one counties in the state of Florida are under a state of emergency, with millions of people facing the prospect of evacuation as Milton gains steam toward the Tampa Bay area, where it is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening.

During a news conference Tuesday morning, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized that while wind speeds may have decreased, Milton is “still a major hurricane” with the potential to strengthen again before making landfall.

“Even if the hurricane weakens, you’re still dealing with a major hurricane,” DeSantis said. “It’s going to have really, really significant impacts.”

If the storm stays on its current path, Milton could be the worst storm to hit the Tampa area in more than 100 years.

The hurricane is one of only forty recorded hurricanes to have escalated to Category 5 level in the Atlantic Ocean, and one of seven hurricanes to go from Category 1 classification to Category 5 in 24 hours or less. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials described Milton during a call with reporters Monday afternoon as the third fastest-growing storm on record in the Atlantic Ocean, behind Hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Felix (2007).

Where is Hurricane Milton and what is its path?

Starting at 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday:

• Milton was located about 100 miles northeast of Progreso, Mexico.

• It was located about 545 miles southwest of Tampa.

• The storm had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.

• The storm was moving from east to northeast at a speed of 20 km/h.

The NHC warned Tuesday morning that “a large area of ​​destructive storm surge” will occur along portions of Florida’s west coast.

“This is an extremely life-threatening situation and residents in those areas should heed the advice of local officials and evacuate immediately if instructed to do so,” the hurricane center said.

Parts of the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys can expect rainfall of 5 to 10 inches through Wednesday night, with local totals of up to 15 inches. Such rainfall brings “the risk of significant flooding, urban and regional flooding, along with the possibility of moderate to major river flooding,” meteorologists said.

Meanwhile, parts of the northern Yucatán Peninsula can expect 2 to 4 inches of rain.

Watches and warnings

Starting at 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday, a hurricane warning is in effect for:

• Celestún to Rio Lagartos, Mexico

• The west coast of Florida, from Bonita Beach to the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay

• The east coast of Florida from the Indian River/St. Lucie County line north to Ponte Vedra Beach

A ‘hurricane warning’ means hurricane conditions are expected in the area. Precautions and preparation for people and property must be completed.

A hurricane watching is in effect for:

• The west coast of Florida, from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach

• Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche

• Dry Tortugas

• Lake Okeechobee

A “hurricane watch” means that hurricane conditions are possible within the areas and is typically issued 48 hours before the hurricane is expected to strike.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

• Rio Lagartos to Cancun

• All Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay

• Lake Okeechobee

• The west coast of Florida, from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach

• West coast of Florida, from north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass

• East coast of Florida, south of the Indian River/St. Lucie County line to Flamingo

• The east coast of Florida, north from Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River

A ‘Tropical Storm Warning’ means tropical storm conditions are expected in the areas within the next 36 hours.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for:

A ‘tropical storm watch’ means tropical storm conditions are possible in the areas within the next 48 hours.

A storm surge warning is in effect for:

• The west coast of Florida, from Flamingo to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor

• The east coast of Florida from the Volusia/Brevard County line north to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River, including the St. Johns River

A ‘storm surge warning’ means there is a life-threatening flood risk over the next 36 hours.

A watching storm surge is in effect for:

• Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to the Volusia/Brevard County line

• Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to Edisto Beach

A “storm surge watch” means that there is a risk of life-threatening flooding.

Evacuations

As of Tuesday morning, the Florida Division of Emergency Management had ordered mandatory evacuations for people living in evacuation zones in 11 Florida counties.

DeSantis urged residents to follow evacuation orders, but emphasized they don’t have to travel far to be safe.

“You don’t have to evacuate hundreds of miles,” DeSantis said at a news conference Monday. “If you are in areas that are prone to storm surge, you go to areas that are not prone to that. Every province has places you can go. Maybe it’s a friend’s house, maybe it’s a hotel, maybe it’s a shelter.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for:

• Charlotte County

• Citrus province

• Collier County

• Hernando County

• Hillsborough County

• Lee County

• Levy County

• Manatee County

• Pasco County

• Pinellas County

• Volusia County

Voluntary evacuations are in effect for:

• Glades County

• Miami Dade County

• Okeechobee County

To find out if you live in an evacuation area, click here.

Milton arrives days after Helene

Hurricane Milton comes just over a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a monstrous Category 4 storm, causing at least 20 deaths in Florida alone.

During a news conference Monday afternoon, FEMA noted that the agency will not yet divert personnel already working in areas affected by Hurricane Helene into Milton’s path.

After making landfall with 140 mph winds, Helene moved inland across the southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing widespread destruction. After the storm, Florida’s infrastructure and emergency services are stretched thin.

Read more from Yahoo News: Helene shows that in the age of climate change, hurricanes don’t just destroy coastlines

Active hurricane season

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but the peak of increased activity is usually from August to October. According to NOAA, a “typical” Atlantic hurricane season will usually see about fourteen named storms, “seven of which become hurricanes and three of which become major hurricanes.”

By early October, eight hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Ocean, with Milton becoming the thirteenth storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. As CNN notes, hurricane season is ahead of the expected schedule. Normally, the 13th storm of the season wouldn’t hit until October 25.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that FEMA did not have the resources to get through the season. President Biden said last week that Congress may need to pass a supplemental spending bill in the coming months to help fund states’ recovery efforts.