Hurricane Milton, a powerful and expanding storm that has fluctuated between a Category 4 and 5 as it churns in the Gulf of Mexico, is set to be a "historic storm for the west coast of Florida," according to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay.

Hurricane Milton is back down to a Category 4 storm—after fluctuating between Categories 4 and 5—and is moving across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, where millions have been told to evacuate as forecasters warn it could be be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record” for the west-central part of the state.

Hurricane Milton will be a storm surge event unlike any hurricane in living memory for west-central Florida, said Dr. Ryan Truchelut.