Milton is forecast to cross central Florida and to dump as much as 18 inches of rain while heading toward the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center. That path would largely spare other states ravaged by Helene, which killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Carolinas.

Hurricane Milton is expected to slam into Florida on Wednesday, bringing with it powerful winds and storm surges.

Hurricane Milton was still a powerful Category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon as it remained on track to make landfall on Florida's western coast by Wednesday night.