**Florida Braces for Impact as Hurricane Milton Approaches**
A powerful storm system is bearing down on the Sunshine State, bringing with it heavy rain, strong winds, and a heightened risk of tornadoes. As Hurricane Milton continues to intensify, residents are urged to take immediate action to protect themselves and their loved ones.
**Storm Surge Warning Issued for West Coast**
A storm surge warning has been issued for the central to southern west coast of Florida, including the Tampa area, with the National Hurricane Center warning of “life-threatening inundation” from rising water moving inland from the coastline. Over 6 million people in more than 10 counties are under evacuation orders, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency stressing that every second counts.
**Category 4 Hurricane Expected to Make Landfall**
Hurricane Milton is currently classified as a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of up to 155 mph. The National Hurricane Center predicts that the storm will remain a hurricane as it crosses the Florida peninsula, with landfall expected late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
**Tornado Warning Issued for Central and Southern Florida**
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for most of central and southern Florida, including Miami-Dade County, with reports of tornadic supercells and isolated gusts of up to 70 mph. Two tornadoes have already been reported, one near Miami and another near the Everglades.
**FEMA Administrator Urges Immediate Action**
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is urging residents in areas under storm surge watch to evacuate immediately, even if only a few miles inland. “Milton is going to be a deadly and catastrophic storm,” Criswell warned. “I want people to hear from me directly, FEMA is ready.”
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