Milton is now a Category 5 hurricane, as Tampa Bay remains in path

• Sustained winds are estimated at 160mph with higher gusts.
• A stretch of Florida's Gulf Coast from the Everglades to the mouth of the Suwannee River is under hurricane and storm surge watches.

Zoom in: Tampa Bay is squarely within Milton's projected path, although it's too soon to say where the storm will make landfall. Forecasters project peak storm surge of 8-12 feet in Tampa Bay.

• That's almost double the amount brought by Hurricane Helene, which killed 12 people in Pinellas County alone and heavily damaged thousands of houses across the region.
• Slight shifts in the track could make a major difference in storm surge projections.
• Evacuations are already underway in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, with more expected later today.

What's next: Emergency officials are urging residents to pay close attention to weather reports and updates from your local governments.