What to know about Hurricane Milton as it churns toward Florida’s Gulf Coast

Hurricane Milton has strengthened as it churns through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. The storm returned to Category 5 status on Tuesday afternoon. National Weather Service forecasters say it’s expected to be a “dangerous major hurricane” when it reaches the Florida coast late Wednesday. Milton is threatening the Tampa Bay area, which is home to more than 3.3 million people and has managed to evade a direct hit from a major hurricane for more than 100 years. Milton is also menacing other stretches of Florida’s west coast that were battered when Helene came ashore on Sept. 26.