Forecasters predict Hurricane Milton is on a path to make landfall around the Tampa Bay or Sarasota areas late Wednesday or early Thursday as a major hurricane.

Several schools, colleges and universities have announced they'll be closed in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says there’s still much uncertainty about Hurricane Milton, but the state is preparing to open highway shoulders for mass evacuations to come.

Regardless of where the storm hits directly, much of the central portion of Florida is at risk of flash flooding, destructive wind and possible tornadoes.