Watch live as Category 4 Hurricane Milton heads to Florida and get updates

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 Kentuckians aren't concerned about the storm.

The storm could still be one of the region's most devastating storms ever , as Kentucky 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

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 Louisville Courier Journal: Watch live as Category 4 Hurricane Milton heads to Florida and get updates