Sandbags, traffic, boarded-up windows: Photos show Florida bracing for Hurricane Milton

The intensity of Hurricane Milton has been closely monitored throughout the Sunshine State and around the U.S. this week as it quickly strengthened from Category 2 to Category 5 on Monday before weakening slightly.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Milton remains an extremely powerful Category 4 storm barreling toward central Florida, where it is expected to make landfall late Wednesday.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center, warned in an update Tuesday. Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surges and heavy rainfall will extend well outside the forecast cone, he said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis extended similar warnings, telling residents that “time is running out” before landfall, likely as a Category 3 hurricane.

"There's no guarantee what the weather's going to be like starting Wednesday morning," DeSantis said at a briefing Tuesday. "You may have a window where it may be safe, but you may not. So use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family."

Photos: Floridians prepare for Hurricane Milton

Floridians on the path of the hurricane are readying for Milton’s effects, while others are fleeing to safer areas in the north of the state.

Highways were seen backed-up and preparations were underway at sites like Tropicana Field as Milton makes its way to the Sunshine State.

Hurricane Milton Tracker

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.