Milton, currently a Category 4 hurricane, is expected to strengthen to a Category 5 within a few hours.

Milton is expected to weaken to a Category 3 hurricane by the time it approaches Florida on Wednesday evening. Landfall is expected late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Storm surge is a major threat.

A record-breaking storm surge of 8 to 12 feet is forecast for the Tampa Bay area. This comes as Floridians are still trying to clean up the record-breaking 6- to 8-foot storm surge just unleashed by Hurricane Helene.

Floods are also expected.

Rain from a separate system is already flooding Fort Lauderdale and Miami on Monday and Tuesday, and if Milton hits, more heavy rain is forecast from Tampa to Jacksonville. Locally, up to 18 inches of rain is possible in parts of Florida over the next three days.

A hurricane watch has been issued for Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers.

-Max Golembo of ABC News