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.

Communities from the Tampa Bay area to Sarasota and Southwest Florida could be where Milton makes landfall midweek.

As Hurricane Milton continued its slow path toward Florida’s Gulf Coast on Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents in evacuation zones to head to safer places as soon as possible. He didn’t have to convince Jossie and Carmelo Erazo.

Hurricane Milton is due to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor had a stark warning for those who may choose not to evacuate.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is warning residents that they will "die" if they fail to act on evacuation orders as Hurricane Milton barrels toward the Florida city. Milton is expected to hit Tampa Bay by Wednesday and travel east across Florida before exiting into the Atlantic Ocean.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued a dire warning to residents considering ignoring evacuation orders as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida. Threat level: "I can say without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas,