Hurricane Milton strengthened into a dangerously powerful hurricane on a path toward Florida population centers, threatening a 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.

Communities from the Tampa Bay area to Sarasota and Southwest Florida could be where Milton makes landfall midweek.

In Hillsborough County, Fla., debris from Hurricane Helene remains largely uncollected as crews continue cleanup efforts, said Kim Byer, assistant administrator of Public Works. Despite their efforts since Helene's landfall,

It’s hard to find much of a forecast cause for optimism. Milton will combine a generational surge threat to west-central Florida with widespread wind impacts and flash flooding.

Milton is expected to be a major hurricane, coming right after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Many states, particularly Florida, are preparing significant evacuation efforts in anticipation of the story.

Hurricane Milton churned through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Tuesday as an “extremely dangerous” storm that could wallop one of the state’s major population centers just two weeks after deadly Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.