Tampa Bay, Florida in the path of category 5 Milton

Hurricane Milton’s wind speeds have slightly decreased, but it remains a Category 5 storm, according to the US National Hurricane Centre’s most recent advisory.

The storm has maximum sustained wind speeds of 160 mph (260 kph). As of 11pm EDT Tuesday, it was 405 miles (650 kilometres) southwest of Tampa, Florida.

It has picked up lateral speed, moving toward Florida at 12 mph (19 kph), and the hurricane centre said it was expected to travel more quickly overnight into Wednesday.

Milton was expected to make landfall late Wednesday night on Florida’s west coast near Tampa, but forecasters said “It is critical to remember that even at 24 hours out, it is still not possible to pinpoint an exact landfall location.”

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) urged residents to evacuate or make other preparations by the end of Tuesday.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the hurricane centre said.

Charlotte County on Tuesday evening extended its Hurricane Milton evacuation order further inland to what it refers to as “Zone C Yellow.”

The additional evacuation zone in the county southeast of Sarasota includes residents in any zone who live in mobile or manufactured homes. That’s about 11per cent or more than 202,600 people who live in the county, according to population estimates from the US Census Bureau.

Hurricane Milton remained on course Tuesday evening for Florida’s west coast, traveling northeast across the Gulf of Mexico at about 10 mph (17 kph), according to the US NHC’s latest advisory.

As of 8pm EDT, the storm was 440 miles (710 kilometres) southwest of Tampa. Its maximum sustained windspeeds were 165 mph (270 kph), making it a Category 5 hurricane still.

“Fluctuations in intensity are likely while Milton moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but Milton is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night,” the hurricane centre said.

Storm surge and hurricane warnings on Florida’s west and east coasts remained in effect.