TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents Monday to prepare for evacuation ahead of Hurricane Milton, even as crews were still working to clear debris left from Hurricane Helene.

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.