Experts warned the storm could become one of Florida’s “most destructive hurricanes” with nearly six million people said to be in the potential path of the extreme conditions.
Florida is bracing for winds of up to 160mph as people continue to evacuate ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton.
The storm has the “potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes” the area has seen when it makes landfall in the coming hours, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Some residents have insisted they will stay after millions were ordered to evacuate, while President Joe Biden has described Hurricane Milton as “literally a matter of life and death.”
Mr Biden postponed an upcoming trip to Germany and Angola in order to oversee preparations for the storm – in addition to the ongoing response to the earlier Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Milton had been a Category 5 hurricane during much of its approach and despite a recent downgrading to Category 3 it remains “major and strong”, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said.
Late changes of direction put areas around Sarasota in the storm’s path. It had originally been forecast to hit Tampa, slightly to the north.
As of 10.30pm UK time, Hurricane Milton was around 170 miles (275km) southwest of Orlando, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 120mph.
Heavy rain is already lashing many communities, with conditions expected to rapidly deteriorate in the coming hours as Hurricane Milton makes landfall.
A tornado crossed the Interstate 75 – a major highway which runs through Florida – according to the National Weather Service.
Experts warned more tornadoes were likely across parts of central and southern Florida, along with the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding.
Forecasters warned the storm could bring eight to 12ft (2.44-3.66m) storm surges, leading to further possible evacuation orders being issued along the Gulf Coast.
Eleven counties in Florida have issued mandatory evacuation orders with up to nearly six million people said to be in the potential path of the storm.
‘We haven’t seen a storm like this’
Pasco County is located on Florida’s west coast and its director of emergency management Andrew Fossa echoed the warnings from other officials.
“I hate to say it like this – Pasco County’s going to get a black eye from this one,” he said.
“We haven’t seen a storm like this in a lifetime.”
Tampa mayor Jane Castor said up to 15ft (4.6m) of storm surge being forecast for her city would be deep enough to swallow an entire house.
“So if you’re in it, basically that’s the coffin that you’re in,” she warned.
A lengthy line of vehicles has been heading north as residents moved to safer areas, while hundreds of flights have been cancelled, with many more expected to be grounded.
The famous Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay, has been shut in the face of Hurricane Milton’s approach.
‘We’ll just hang… tough it out’
In Riverview, south of Tampa, several drivers waiting in a long line for fuel said they had no plans to evacuate.
“I think we’ll just hang, you know – tough it out,” said Martin Oakes, of nearby Apollo Beach.
“We got shutters up. The house is all ready. So this is sort of the last piece of the puzzle.”