Milton Returns to Category 5 Strength

After dipping in strength as it moved over the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Milton returned to Category 5 strength on Tuesday as Florida braced for what could be one of the most dangerous storms in state history. In an update at 4pm Eastern, the National Hurricane Center said Milton is "expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night." The NHC said Florida residents "should get their homes and families ready and evacuate if told to do so." Milton rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 storm on Monday.

• Storm surge warning. The National Weather Service's Tampa Bay office warned that there could be 10 to 15 feet of storm surge in some areas, CNN reports. The NWS used a video of its building to demonstrate that storm surge could reach the roofs of some buildings.

• Mass exodus. One of the largest evacuations in state history is underway, with around 5.5 million people in areas including Tampa Bay under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, the New York Times reports. A list of evacuation orders can be seen here . Officials in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, said people should try to get to a safe place before 7am Wednesday.
• "The storm of the century." Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw urged people to follow mandatory evacuation orders, the BBC reports. "We've never seen anything like this before, this is the storm of the century," he said. The chief also urged people to remain calm and be patient, especially when facing long waits to get gas.

• DeSantis warns, thanks residents. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a Tuesday afternoon briefing that people "absolutely could get whacked" with a "really serious storm surge," the BBC reports. He warned that the surge could hit "almost every place on the west coast of Florida." He thanked people for preparing for the storm so soon after Hurricane Helen. "I know everybody's tired, trust me," he said.
• Waffle House closes dozens of locations. CNN reports that in a sign of how serious the storm is, Waffle House, known for staying open even during natural disasters, closed dozens of locations in the Tampa and Fort Myers areas Tuesday afternoon.

(The hurricane's small eye is a signal of its intensity.)