The time to prepare "was quickly coming to end" at 10 a.m., according to the National Hurricane Center. Here are views from Florida's Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Milton is expected to be an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 or 4 hurricane when makes landfall in Florida Wednesday night.

Forecasters are urging people in Florida to make preparations or leave their homes today, as the National Hurricane Center confirmed that Milton is a "catastrophic Category 5 hurricane" and will hit Florida later today or early tomorrow as a major storm.

This is the place for the latest news and developments for Hurricane Milton as it approaches Lee County and the Southwest Florida coast.

Milton fluctuated between categories 4 and 5 as it approached, and forecasters are warning it will be a major and extremely dangerous storm when its center makes landfall.

The powerful and dangerous Hurricane Milton is expected to make Wednesday landfall in Florida. Follow live updates.

Hurricane Milton currently is in the Gulf of Mexico and is moving toward Florida's West Coast. Landfall is expected Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.