Explosive Cat 5 Hurricane Milton Headed to Florida

(Miami, FL) -- Category 5 Hurricane Milton is growing into a major problem as it is forecast to make landfall in Florida late Wednesday or early Thursday.

It's gaining strength as it rolls across the Gulf of Mexico, now clocking in at 180-miles-per-hour -- a 90-mile-per-hour wind increase on Monday alone. This general motion is expected through tonight followed by a turn toward the east-northeast and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Milton is forecast to move near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula tonight and Tuesday, then cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday.

Counties along Florida's west coast have been ordered to evacuate, as over 50 are under a state of emergency.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* West coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee

River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Celestun to Rio Lagartos

* Florida west coast from Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* Sebastian Inlet to Edisto Beach, including St. Johns River

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche

* Campeche to south of Celestun

* Dry Tortugas

* Lake Okeechobee

* Florida west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach

* Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Indian River County Line northward to the mouth of the St. Marys River

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Rio Lagartos to Cancun

* Campeche to south of Celestun

* All of the Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas

* Lake Okeechobee

* Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach

* Florida west coast from north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to

Indian Pass

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…

* East coast of the Florida Peninsula south of the St. Lucie/Indian River County Line southward to Flamingo

* Coast of Georgia and South Carolina from north of the mouth of the St. Marys River to South Santee River, South Carolina