Watch Hurricane Milton's live Category 4 landfall push in Florida. Video, path tracker update

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida Wednesday night and possibly weaken in strength down from a Category 4 hurricane , but that doesn't mean Hoosiers aren't concerned about the storm.

The storm could still be one of the region's most devastating storms ever , as Indiana residents are forced to alter vacation plans and try to maintain the safety of loved ones from afar.

Milton became a hurricane Sunday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico. On Monday, Milton intensified from a Category 2 hurricane into a Category 5 storm with winds of 180 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center . On Wednesday morning it dropped to Category 4.

Hurricane hunters flew "Miss Piggy," one of The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) two Lockheed WP-3D Orion "Hurricane Hunters," into the eye of Hurricane Milton to collect data.

AccuWeather forecasters expect Milton to make landfall near St. Petersburg late Wednesday as a "formidable Category 3 hurricane." Especially concerning: a potential record storm surge of 15-20 feet for the Tampa Bay, Sarasota and St. Petersburg areas.

Hurricane Milton live weather updates: Surging toward Tampa; landfall likely tonight

Watch Hurricane Milton live stream tracker updates as Category 4 storm makes landfall in Florida

Hurricane Milton live path tracker video as Florida braces for Category 4 landfall

Hurricane Milton live video update from The Isles of Collier Reserve in Naples, Fla.

Hurricane Milton live cam update from Hilton Beach Clearwater in Florida

Disney World vs Hurricane Milton: As Disney World closes ahead of Hurricane Milton, Hoosiers' travel plans might need to change

Is there time to evacuate Florida before Hurricane Milton makes landfall tonight?

Those wishing to evacuate may still have time to do so in the morning.

"Most people have evacuated, but there is still a little bit of time this morning for those last people that hesitated to be able to evacuate," said Rick Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tampa, told USA TODAY .

When will Hurricane Milton make landfall in Florida today, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024?

The storm is expected to make landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Despite pending landfall, areas of Florida are already feeling the storm's effects.

Where will Hurricane Milton make landfall in Florida tonight?

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in the Manatee Couty / Sarasota County area on central Florida's west coast, give or take 50 miles north or south, according to Davis, who also advised people not to concentrate on where it could make landfall.

"We're telling people not to focus on the exact center because as the system makes landfall, the eye is going to be getting larger, and the wind field is going to be expanding," Davis said. "Even if you're not directly in the path, the effects will be felt far and wide at the point of landfall."

Did Hurricane Milton weather produce a tornado near Sunrise, Florida today?

Yes, a tornado touched down 14 miles west of Sunrise, Fla. and coasted across Interstate 75. The state will experience hurricane and tropical storm winds throughout Wednesday. Areas in Southwest Florida are already experiencing tornadoes.

Hurricane Milton weather update today: National Hurricane Center warns of 'life-threatening' storm's approach

In a Wednesday morning update from the National Hurricane Center, meteorologists forecasted heavy rainfall totaling 6 to 12 inches across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday, with localized totals up to 18 inches.

"This rainfall brings the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding," the center said.

Hurricane-force winds are also expected along portions of the state's west coast, where a hurricane warning is in effect, and could extend well inland and outside the forecast cone. Hurricane warning maps show Florida blanketed in red and orange alerts.

"Preparations to protect life and property, including being ready for long-duration power outage, should be rushed to completion," the center warned. "Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida."

Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World both announced closures bracing for landfall, and Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play home games has been transformed into a base camp for emergency responders.

On Tuesday, evacuating Florida residents headed to Georgia to escape Milton ahead of landfall. Over a hundred miles north of the state line, many were stuck in central Georgia traffic and packed gas stations.

Hurricane Milton weather updates: ¿Cuándo y dónde tocará tierra el Huracán Milton? Esto es lo que sabemos hasta ahora.

How to sign up for Hurricane Milton text alert warning updates / Suscríbete para recibir alertas por mensaje de texto sobre el Huracán Milton

Want to track Hurricane Milton? Get texts about current storms, hurricanes and more weather events by location and around the country.

Envía HOLA al (239) 241-6343 para recibir información sobre Milton en español.

Información más reciente sobre el Huracán Milton en Florida

¿Cuándo y dónde tocará tierra el Huracán Milton ? Esto es lo que sabemos hasta ahora.

Hurricane Milton path tracker update map

Hurricane Milton spaghetti models update map

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Watch Hurricane Milton's live Category 4 landfall push in Florida. Video, path tracker update