Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 hurricane, threatens disastrous winds and storm surge to the Tampa Bay area and the west coast of Florida, officials said Monday.

Already reeling from Helene, Florida coast braces for arrival of powerful Hurricane Milton, predicted for Wednesday

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane Monday on a path toward Florida population centers including Tampa and Orlando, threatening a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.