Category 3 Hurricane Milton is expected to be one of the most destructive storms ever to strike west-central Florida.
Milton will likely hit Florida's west coast Wednesday night (US time), probably as a Category 3.
In South Florida alone, there have been 15 reported tornadoes so far today. Miami-Dade has been hit by multiple tornadoes.
During an address Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said: "I urge everyone in Hurricane Milton's past to listen to local officials and follow all the safety instructions they give.
"At this point, evacuation is probably difficult, so I encourage people to look for safer shelter, sometimes moving just a few miles can mean the difference between life and death.
"So, my final message tonight is to the people of Florida and all the impacted states, we've got your back. We've got your back. And Kamala and I will be there for as long as it takes to rescue, recover, and rebuild."
Florida is preparing for Milton's imminent landfall, where evacuations are underway.
It has been advised that residents in Milton's path leave as soon as possible.
Governor Ron DeSantis and others warned people to end storm preparations and evacuate.
The hurricane is expected to cause widespread power outages, with strong winds potentially toppling power lines and trees. Coastal areas are likely to experience severe flooding due to storm surges, damaging roads and bridges. Additionally, intense rainfall may lead to landslides and disrupt communication networks, further complicating rescue efforts.
“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm’s wind field was forecast to double by the time it moved across the Gulf of Mexico and hit Florida.
It was less than two weeks ago that Hurricane Helene flooded parts of the western Florida coast before making landfall in the Big Bend region as a Category 4, where it continued on a path that devastated parts of the Southeast.
The storm will track west-to-east across Florida. Up to 38cm of rain is forecast for Orlando, and the region faces an "extreme flooding rain threat".