Hurricane Milton strengthens into Category 3 hurricane as Florida orders compulsory evacuations from 10am ahead of nine-foot storm surges

Residents in major Florida cities are preparing to bunker down or evacuate as Category 3 Hurricane Milton barrels in this week, bringing 'life-threatening' storm surges of up to nine feet. 

The storm was upgraded Monday morning, meaning it's now expected to bring 'devastating damage' as it heads toward Orlando and Tampa Bay - an area still reeling from Hurricane Helene last month. 

Helene brought record storm surges to the area, killing 230 people while obliterating several small towns in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas - and meteorologists have warned the incoming storm could be even worse.  

Kevin Guthrie, head of Florida's Department of Emergency Management, warned the storm could be 'life-threatening' and urged residents under evacuation orders to follow them.

'We are preparing for the largest evacuation we have seen since, most likely, 2017 Hurricane Irma,' he said. Around seven million people were told to evacuate the Sunshine State when Irma hit. 

Meanwhile, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody gave a dire warning to residents who refuse to comply with evacuation orders. 

'You probably need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm so that people know who you are when they get to you afterwards,' she said. 

Residents in Pasco County, and those living in mobile homes along with low-lying and flood-prone areas are under mandatory evacuation orders from 10am Monday. 

The county is bracing for storm surge heights of three to nine feet, with rainfall of up to 15 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

Widespread traffic disruption and power outages are expected across Florida. 

While forecast models vary widely, the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Meanwhile, the Mexican government has issued a hurricane warning for the Yucatan Peninsula from Celestun to Rio Lagartos.

When Hurricane Irma hit in 2017, the exodus of seven million people jammed freeways and led to hours-long lines at gas stations. 

Building on lessons learned during Irma and other previous storms, Florida is staging emergency fuel for gas vehicles and charging stations for electric vehicles along evacuation routes, Guthrie said. 

'We are looking at every potential, possible location that can potentially house someone, as what we refer to in emergency management, as a refuge of last resort,' Guthrie added.

The storm was centered about 195 miles (314 kilometers) west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) west-southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (161 kph) Monday morning. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that while it remains to be seen where Milton will strike, it's clear the state is going to be hit hard.

'I don´t think there´s any scenario where we don´t have major impacts at this point,' he said.

'You have time to prepare - all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,' DeSantis said.   

'If you´re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you´ll be asked to leave.'

With Milton achieving hurricane status, this is the first time the Atlantic has had three simultaneous hurricanes after September, according to Colorado State University hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach. 

There have been four simultaneous hurricanes in August and September.

The St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay area is still cleaning up extensive damage from Helene and its powerful storm surge. 

Twelve people perished as Helene swamped the coast, with the worst damage along the narrow, 20-mile (32-kilometer) string of barrier islands that stretch from St. Petersburg to Clearwater.

DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration Sunday to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruption, making sure they have a week´s worth of food and water and are ready to hit the road.

People who live in homes built after Florida strengthened codes in 2004, who don´t depend on constant electricity and who aren´t in evacuation zones should probably avoid the roads, Guthrie said.

All classes and school activities in St. Petersburg´s Pinellas County preemptively closed Monday through Wednesday as Milton approached.