TAMPA, Fla. – Hurricane Milton continues to rapidly strengthen, becoming a Category 5 severe storm with maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday.

As of 8 p.m. Monday, Hurricane Milton was at 21.9 N, 90.4 W, about 650 miles southwest of Tampa, and moving east at 10 mph.

Hurricane Milton: County-by-County Guide

According to the National Hurricane Center, central pressure in the eye of Milton has fallen to a near record low as the storm sets its sights on Florida's west coast.

The National Hurricane Center says Milton could become even stronger Monday evening and into Tuesday morning as it encounters light shear and very warm water. However, radar data indicates that Milton may be at the beginning of an eyewall replacement cycle, with some evidence of a moat and partial outer eyewall. This will likely cause the system to gradually weaken but grow larger on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Milton is expected to encounter a more adverse environment with strong shear and dry air input, which forecasters believe will weaken the storm.

Regardless, Hurricane Milton is expected to become a large, strong hurricane when it makes landfall on the west coast of Florida.

READ: What is a Category 5 hurricane?

Milton is expected to remain a hurricane as it crosses the Florida Peninsula, and life-threatening hurricane-force winds, particularly squalls, are expected to spread inland across a portion of the entire state.

Before Milton, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties, including all counties in the Tampa Bay Area.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton could be one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded in West Central Florida.

Clocks and Alerts

A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's west coast from Bonita Beach north to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay.

A storm surge warning has been issued for the west coast of Florida from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay

A flood warning is in effect for the entire Tampa Bay area, most of Central Florida and all of South Florida.

What is the difference between a clock and an alert?

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

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A warning is typically issued 48 hours before the expected first occurrence of tropical storm force winds, conditions that make external 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 from rising water flowing inland from the coast in the specified locations over the next 36 hours.

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a chance of life-threatening flooding from rising water moving inland from the coast in the specified locations over the next 48 hours.

When will the impact be felt in the Bay Area?

Some areas will see heavy rain Monday and Tuesday, which FOX 13 meteorologists say is not directly related to Milton.

Rain from Milton is likely to arrive on Wednesday and continue into Thursday before the storm dissipates.

Depending on the exact path Milton takes, the heaviest rainfall is expected to come south from the I-4 corridor, with several inches – even up to a foot in some areas – likely over the next week.

Hurricane Milton: Bay Area schools closed due to storm

As for other significant impacts like wind and life-threatening storm surge, FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg says the point of landfall will be crucial in determining where Milton will feel the worst.

“While we have some answers today, we don’t have others,” Osterberg said. “What I can’t answer is where exactly it will make landfall and how much it will weaken before it makes landfall.”

FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto warns that even if Milton weakens before landfall, it will not weaken the storm surge. The landfall site to the south will see the largest wave, with the latest forecast predicting 8 to 12 feet from Anclote south to the Fort Myers Beach area.

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