Officials have been urging residents to heed evacuation warnings before Hurricane Milton hits Florida's western coast.

Hurricane Milton's winds reach 90 mph and is expected to reach Category 4 strength. Sarasota and Manatee counties are in center of forecast cone.

Hurricane Milton strengthened into a dangerously powerful hurricane on a path toward Florida population centers, threatening a 12-foot 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.