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ATLANTA — As Florida gears up for potential catastrophic impacts from impending Hurricane Milton that is expected to batter the west coast near Tampa, Georgia is preparing its coastal region and helping evacuees coming north.

Milton underwent incredible rapid intensification on Monday, reaching peak winds of 180 mph.

The official forecast from the National Hurricane Center has the storm nearing landfall Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. This could happen anywhere between Crystal River and Fort Myers. It's hard to say this early out which county landfall will happen at, but the center of the cone of uncertainty is focused between Tampa and Venice Beach.

The Georgia coast is now included in a tropical storm warning. Even though the coast won't get a direct landfall from the very dangerous hurricane Milton, it will have some impacts as the hurricane crosses the Florida peninsula.

Some wind gusts could reach tropical storm-force, rainfall will be prevalent, especially from Brunswick to St. Mary's, and we are expecting storm surge of 2 to 4 feet.

Hurricane Milton updates | Tuesday, Oct. 8

9 p.m. | 11Alive's Chief Meteorologist Chris Holcomb provides an update on Milton's track. Watch it below.

8 p.m. | Georgia Emergency Management posted on social media alerting evacuees from Florida that lodging is limited and listed off hotels with availability in specific areas of the state:

Hey Florida friends: While traveling up to our state, please keep in mind that lodging is limited. Here are the hotels...

Posted by Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency on Tuesday, October 8, 2024

5 p.m. | Hurricane Milton rapidly strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico, quickly becoming a Category 5 storm in a matter of hours on Monday as it moves toward Florida. The major hurricane threatens to bring a dangerous storm surge to Tampa Bay and surrounding areas on the peninsula's western coast and is setting the stage for potential mass evacuations.

3:35 p.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp ordered a State of Emergency for counties in Georgia within the path of Hurricane Milton on Tuesday.

The order comes the same day the governor extended a previous State of Emergency for areas affected by Helene.

The Milton State of Emergency will last until Oct. 16.

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