Fearful Florida residents are streaming out of the Tampa Bay region ahead of what could be a once-in-a-century direct hit from Hurricane Milton.

With reverse storm surge, especially in larger storms, the opposite happens, explained AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok in 2022, after Ian hit. “It can pull the water out because the wind flow is coming from land to ocean, and it pushes the water,” he said. “The power of the wind is incredible.”

The National Hurricane Center expects Milton will be a Category 3 storm, with wind speeds of at least 111 mph, when it reaches the Tampa Bay area, likely sometime overnight Wednesday.