Hurricane Milton is expected to be so powerful it will cover nearly every beach on Florida’s west coast — and forever change the Sunshine State’s coastline, experts warn.

At least 95% of beaches on Florida’s west coast are forecast to be underwater – or perpetually covered by ocean water – when the hurricane, which is expected to be one of the strongest on record, is expected to make landfall on Wednesday country will come, while many are still recovering from Helene, the US. Geological survey

“This is the most severe level of coastal change,” the federal agency warned — saying “Milton’s swells and swells” could cause “erosion and flooding” on 100% of the state’s beaches.

“The importance of the coastal change forecast for Milton’s impact on the west coast of Florida cannot be overstated,” said USGS scientist Kara Doran.

The damage is even worse because “communities are more vulnerable to the impacts of this storm due to the erosion that has recently occurred through Helene,” Doran pointed out.

Footage from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration after Helene showed that Florida’s west coast was already experiencing “flooding or flooding and complete erosion of those dunes,” meaning protective sandbars that normally line the coastline no longer exist in many locations , the expert noted.

USGS experts predict a “severe” level of coastal change that will likely cause flooding behind sand dunes and endanger coastal communities.

Follow The Post’s latest news on Hurricane Milton:

While the USGS forecast is a “worst-case scenario,” the agency wrote, the National Hurricane Center has also warned that Milton could bring life-threatening storm surges, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall, especially in the Tampa Bay region.

During an overnight update beginning Wednesday, the center noted that Milton was a “catastrophic Category 5” storm that was expected to make landfall later that night.

The storm was 300 miles southwest of Tampa Wednesday morning with sustained winds of 160 mph, the center said.

Hurricane Milton joined a long list of devastating storms that have changed Florida’s coastline, including Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Michael, according to the USGS.