Watch live: Hurricane Milton live coverage

Already powerful Hurricane Milton was again gaining strength Tuesday and could double in size before slamming into west-central Florida as what could be one of the "most destructive hurricanes on record" late Wednesday.

The National Hurricane Center issued the warning Tuesday, saying damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall will extend well outside the forecast cone. Hurricane warning maps show Florida blanketed in red and orange alerts.

"Air Force reserve hurricane hunters find that Milton's intensity has rebounded," the hurricane center said in an advisory Tuesday afternoon.

Milton had undergone stunningly rapid intensification Monday, its sustained winds reaching 180 mph. By Tuesday the wind speed dropped dramatically although still a fierce Category 4 storm. It climbed back to 155 Tuesday afternoon, just below Category 5 status. Fluctuations were expected as the storm closes in on Florida, said John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center.

[Elle_Vien]

Ron DeSantis is the epitome of LEADERSHIP

[jowandathomas]

I don't know why y'all listen to her she just spews lies why continue this clown show

[stevemitchell]

i dont know - im wondering same
wonder if lost power?

[THOMASDSOUSA-vtsj]

*AMERICA IS GIVEN ITS OWN PILLS.* 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[justliftit]

Ron DeSantis is killing it. He is the type of politician we need especially when we have natural disasters like these hurricanes. He's got everything set before the storm even comes.

I'm very impressed by his performance but I shouldn't be because we live in a country where we're supposed to be a meritocracy where people in these positions are supposed to be the best of the best and more recently we've been putting people in office, law enforcement, FBI, and in charge and many other ways just because of their race sex gender and not their qualification.

That is a fatal mistake if you look and see what's come of the DEI crap people are literally DYING that could have otherwise been rescued had we been organized beforehand in these natural disaster emergencies like the wildfires in Hawaii and in South Carolina from the hurricane Helene.

We need people like DeSantis no matter what color race or sex they are to be in our governments representing us encouraging and supporting us and protecting us by preparing to our best possible abilities to handle natural disasters.

Governor DeSantis should not be the exception he should be the rule, unfortunately though he is an exception to all these crappy politicians that don't have Americans best interest at heart. And me saying that should be a no-brainer and not a controversial thing to say

[johnseeovfram]

Hahaha ha manipulate the weather and mother nature will answer. Time to pay