TAMPA, Fla. – Hurricane Milton weakened slightly Wednesday morning to a strong Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour.

FOX 13 meteorologists say Milton is beginning to experience a less favorable environment with strong wind shear, which will reduce the storm’s intensity before it makes landfall. However, landfall could still be a Category 4 storm.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Milton was located at 25.0N and 84.8W, which is about 250 miles southwest of Tampa.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton was wobbling earlier on Tuesday but is moving northeast at 26 miles per hour. The storm is expected to gain speed and turn northeastward Wednesday night.

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane late Wednesday or early Thursday.

The NHC says fluctuations in intensity are likely as Milton crosses the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but it is still expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west coast of Florida.

The NHC says a turn to the east-northeast and east is expected on Thursday and Friday. Milton will cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.

The storm is then expected to move across the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of Florida on Thursday afternoon.

READ: St. Pete construction cranes could pose a threat during Hurricane Milton

Hurricane force winds extend 30 miles from the center of Hurricane Milton and tropical storm force winds extend 140 miles outward.

Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties, while President Joe Biden approved a federal disaster declaration ahead of Milton.

Watches and warnings

A storm surge warning is in effect for the west coast of Florida from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay, as well as the Sebastian Inlet, Florida to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, including the St. Johns River.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach north to the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay, and on the east coast of Florida from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line north to Ponte Vedra Beach.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area throughout Florida late Wednesday through Thursday.

A tornado watch is in effect for part of the Bay Area, including Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties, until 9 p.m. Wednesday. The tornado watch extends across all of South Florida.

Storm surge

The National Hurricane Center says the combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be inundated by rising waters moving inland from the coastline. The water may reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

• Egmont Key, FL to Boca Grande, FL – 10-15 ft
• Tampa Bay – 10-15 ft
• Anclote River, FL to Egmont Key, FL – 9-13 ft
• Boca Grande, FL to Bonita Beach, FL – 8-12 ft
• Charlotte Harbor – 8-12 ft
• Bonita Beach, FL to Chokoloskee, FL – 5-8 ft
• Aripeka, FL to Anclote River, FL – 5-8 ft
• Chokoloskee, FL to Flamingo, FL – 3-5 ft
• Sebastian Inlet, FL to Altamaha Sound, GA – 3-5 ft
• Altamaha Sound, GA to Edisto Beach, SC – 2-4 ft
• Suwannee River, FL to Aripeka, FL – 2-4 ft
• Dry Tortugas – 2-4 ft
• St. Johns River – 2-4 ft

FOX 13 meteorologists say where Hurricane Milton makes landfall will make a huge difference in the amount of storm surge, with areas ranging from the eye to about 20 to 30 miles south bearing the brunt.

What is the difference between a watch and a warning?

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the expected first appearance of tropical storm force winds, conditions that make outdoor preparations difficult or dangerous.

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the expected first appearance of tropical storm force winds, conditions that make outdoor preparations difficult or dangerous.

Hurricane Milton: Mandatory evacuations begin in the Tampa Bay Area

A storm surge warning means there is a risk of life-threatening flooding at the indicated locations over the next 36 hours due to rising water moving inland from the coastline.

A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening flooding at the indicated locations over the next 48 hours as rising waters move inland from the coastline.

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late Wednesday or early Thursday.

How much rain will we get?

Florida can expect 6 to 12 inches of rain, with up to 18 inches possible in some places. The heaviest rain is expected north of the storm’s center.

Hurricane Milton will bring heavy rainfall to Florida, especially north of the storm’s center, creating the risk of severe flooding in some areas.

This rainfall carries the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flooding and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding.

Hurricane Milton will bring heavy rain to parts of Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, Wednesday through Thursday.

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