Hurricane Milton, expected to weaken in strength down from a Category 5 hurricane by its expected arrival in west-central Florida Wednesday night, still could be one of the region’s most devastating storms ever.

Milton became a hurricane Sunday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico. On Monday, Milton intensified from a Category 2 hurricane into a Category 5 storm, generating winds of 180 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

AccuWeather forecasters expect Milton to make landfall near St. Petersburg late Wednesday as a “formidable Category 3 hurricane.” Especially concerning: a potential record storm surge of 15-20 feet for the Tampa Bay, Sarasota and St. Petersburg areas.

The National Hurricane Center has forecast rainfall for the central to northern Florida peninsula of 6 to 12 inches, with 18-inch totals in some spots through Thursday. Such amounts come with the risk “of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding,” the center said.

After the center of the storm makes landfall in Florida Wednesday night it is expected to move off the east coast of Florida into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, the center said.

Watch USA TODAY’s coverage of Hurricane Milton

View from Hilton Clearwater Beach in Clearwater, Fla.

The Isles of Collier Reserve in Naples, Fla.

More more live webcams on Florida’s west-central coast

Storms & Hurricanes Live Webcams

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