Brace Yourselves, Florida: 'Extremely Dangerous' Hurricane Milton is Just Another Climate Change Love Letter

Oh, Florida, you poor, flat, sunshine-soaked denialist paradise. The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on not one, but two systems in the Atlantic because why settle for one existential threat when you can have a couple? Let's talk about Hurricane Milton, which has been called "extremely dangerous," because obviously, 2023 hasn't been dramatic enough.

Hurricane Milton, our latest guest star in this climate change-fueled reality show, has weakened slightly from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm as of Tuesday morning. But don't let that fool you — forecasters warn it'll remain "an extremely dangerous hurricane" through landfall in Florida. It's like Mother Nature is saying, "Hold my beer."

Milton went from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 5 storm within hours on Monday, generating winds of 180 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of Tuesday morning, the storm was located about 560 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph with higher gusts. Milton is expected to turn toward the east-northeast and northeast Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the hurricane center.

Meteorologists said the storm is expected to move near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and nearing the west coast of Florida by Wednesday. Milton is forecast to make landfall in Florida Wednesday night, according to the NHC.

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Here's the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

NHC Tracks Hurricane Milton and Tropical Storm Leslie

As of 7 a.m. CDT, the center of Hurricane Milton was located about 100 miles northeast of Progreso, Mexico and 545 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida.

• Location: about 100 miles northeast of Progreso, Mexico and 545 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida
• Maximum sustained winds: 145 mph
• Movement: east-northeast at 12 mph

Milton is expected to produce damaging hurricane-force winds and a life-threatening storm surge with destructive waves across parts of the Yucatan Peninsula's northern coast Tuesday, according to the NHC advisory. It's likely to grow in size as it approaches Florida's west coast on Wednesday, bringing a life-threatening storm surge. Residents are urged to follow updates and be prepared to evacuate if the orders are issued. Because nothing says "fun" like a mandatory evacuation.

Tropical Storm Leslie remains in the central Atlantic and is not expected to make landfall. Good for you, Leslie, for not being a total jerk.

• Location: about 1,335 miles west-northwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands
• Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph
• Movement: northwest at 13 mph

Hurricane Milton Spaghetti Models

Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. Because even in hurricane tracking, there are elites.

Hurricane Tracker: Track Projected Path for Hurricane Milton

"Milton poses an extremely serious threat to Florida and residents are urged to follow the orders of local officials," the hurricane center said in an advisory Tuesday morning.

Milton is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Florida this week. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 12 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are expected across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday, the NHC said Tuesday morning. Milton is also forecast to bring rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches across the Florida Keys through Thursday.

Even ahead of Milton's arrival, a potentially deadly storm surge of 10-15 feet is possible for Tampa and other coastal communities Tuesday through Wednesday night, according to the NHC. Because who doesn't love a good storm surge?

What Else is Lurking? NHC Tracking 2 More Systems in the Atlantic

Besides Hurricane Milton and Tropical Storm Leslie, the NHC is tracking two systems in the Atlantic Ocean. Both have low chances of development over the next week.

Southwestern Atlantic: An area of low pressure is near the northern Bahamas, bringing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The system could develop Tuesday and Wednesday, but only temporarily. Upper-level winds are likely to increase later in the week, limiting further development.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low, 20 percent.
• Formation chance through 7 days: Low, 20 percent.

Eastern tropical Atlantic: In the next couple of days, a tropical wave is likely to move from Africa's west coast but has only slight chances of development as it moves westward or west-northwestward across the eastern tropical Atlantic. It may near the Cabo Verde Islands Thursday or early Friday.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: Low, near 0 percent.
• Formation chance through 7 days: Low, 20 percent.

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— USA TODAY contributed to this report.