What it looks like when the storm approaches – NBC Chicago

NOTE: Watch a live view from St. Petersburg as Hurricane Milton approaches landfall

The first impacts of Hurricane Milton were felt in parts of Florida on Wednesday as the potentially devastating storm was expected to make landfall within hours.

Here's a look at what's happening in the region:

St Petersburg

St. Petersburg officials warned residents Wednesday afternoon that no matter where the storm hits, the city should prepare for extended power outages and the possible closure of its sewer system.

Mayor Ken Welch said residents should prepare for a long recovery.

“This is the reality of a direct hit from a strong hurricane in our area. This is not a storm from which we will recover quickly. We have a long road ahead of us, but we will recover and rebuild,” Welch said. “But over the next few hours our focus is on keeping everyone safe, and we can do that.”

Lee County

In Lee County, which includes Fort Myers about 95 miles (153 kilometers) southeast of Tampa, public safety director Ben Abes said Wednesday that the county's law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services will be deployed starting Wednesday as the weather improves deteriorated, will no longer respond to calls.

“Our local hospitals could also close, which would prevent access for … ambulances,” Abes said.

Abes said tropical storm-force winds were coming ashore and time to evacuate had expired.

“It is not safe to be outside and it is not safe to return home if you have been evacuated,” Abes said. “The time to shelter in place is now.”

Abes said the county's 13 emergency shelters housed more than 6,700 people.

Tampa Bay

Four major bridges in the Tampa Bay area, including the iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge, have been closed.

The Skyway spans the mouth of Tampa Bay and connects Pinellas and Manatee counties via Interstate 275. It often closes when winds from any source reach a certain threshold.

The other three bridges cross Tampa Bay and connect Tampa to cities such as Clearwater and St. Petersburg. These are the Howard Frankland, which also carries I-275, the Gandy and the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Manatee County

Manatee County officials warned residents who had not yet evacuated the area that it was now too late.

“Where you are now is where you will be for the duration of Milton,” said Matt Myers, the county’s emergency management director. “Conditions are deteriorating rapidly.”

Myers said emergency services and fire protection stopped responding to the county's islands and bridges were closed.

Cape Coral

On Wednesday afternoon, a tidal wave was already beginning to appear at Cape Coral Harbor, at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River.

The water had already moved far up the beach and was approaching the parking lot. A pier was just a foot away from sinking.

Heavy rains from bands associated with Hurricane Milton brought heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour.

Fort Myers

An apparent tornado touched down in a Fort Myers neighborhood near Page Field Airport.

It happened Wednesday afternoon, well before Hurricane Milton hit.

Tree branches were snapped, a gas station's canopy was torn into pieces and pieces scattered across the street, and an ice machine was thrown about 30 feet (9 meters).

In the neighborhood there are branches of trees scattered across the street. The area remains under a tornado watch throughout the day.

Orlando

Tourism in Orlando quickly came to a halt Wednesday as the main airport and at least three amusement parks and other businesses were set to close, forcing Florida residents and visitors fleeing Hurricane Milton to hunker down in area hotels.

Orlando International Airport, the seventh-busiest airport in the country and Florida's busiest airport, suspended operations Wednesday morning.

South Florida

The National Weather Service said much of southern Florida was under a tornado watch.

More than 12 million people in the state were at risk from tornadoes as well as hail and wind, the service said.

Last timing

Officials said they expect the hurricane to make landfall in the area overnight. They urged citizens sheltering in place to stay in the middle of their homes and ensure their devices are charged.

Hurricane Milton's intensity continued to fluctuate as it neared landfall in Florida.

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall late Wednesday, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. The agency said the storm would make landfall in the middle of Florida's west coast.

The hurricane center had previously said landfall could occur late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Hurricane Milton fell to Category 4 early Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center had predicted the hurricane would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane upon landfall.

The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faced the possibility of widespread destruction after escaping direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most devastating hurricanes ever for West Central Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said in a forecast discussion.

The hurricane was expected to make landfall on Florida's west coast near Tampa late Wednesday evening, but forecasters said: “It is important to remember that even after 24 hours, it is still not possible to have an exact location the landing.”

Early Wednesday, the hurricane hit the Gulf of Mexico, north of Cuba and southwest of Florida, with winds of 160 miles per hour. A live tracker for Hurricane Milton can be found below.

What part of Florida will Milton reach?

New evacuation orders have been issued as authorities say time to leave is running out.

Just before noon Wednesday, officials in Pasco County, where more than 500,000 people live in bedroom communities serving Tampa and St. Petersburg, said they were preparing to take buses off the roads.

“This is your last chance if you need to go to a shelter,” the Pasco County Public Information Office said in a written statement. “After that, you need to find a way to the shelter or be prepared to ride out the storm.”

The county has six shelters open to everyone in mandatory evacuation zones.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the storm was expected to strike near Sarasota, south of Tampa.

“Maybe landing in this area, the Florida barrier islands,” Roman said.

The hurricane was expected to move through the state and into the eastern part by Thursday with winds of about 80 miles per hour.

“But by then the damage will be done,” Roman said.

Fifteen Florida counties, home to more than 7.2 million people, had to be evacuated Wednesday morning.

Here is the full list:

• Charlotte County
• Citrus County
• Collier County
• Flagler County
• Hernando County
• Hillsborough County
• Lee County
• Levy County
• Manatee County
• Marion County
• Pasco County
• Pinellas County
• Sarasota County
• St. John's County
• Volusia County

Several other Florida counties had voluntary evacuation orders, including Seminole County, Palm Beach County, Osceola County, Orange County, Nassau County and Miami-Dade County. A complete list of Florida officials can be found here.