Floridians have been issued a stark warning as they brace for the impact of Hurricane Milton's winds and expected massive storm surge, which forecasters say could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay region.

Almost the entirety of Florida's west coast is under a hurricane warning early Tuesday as the storm and its 155mph winds creep toward the state at 9mph, sucking energy from the Gulf of Mexico's warm water.

Milton has weakened from a Category 5 hurricane - the strongest type - to a slightly weaker Category 4. But forecasters have warned it could become a Cat 5 again later today, with landfall expected Wednesday. 

The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay has said that 'if the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years.' Mayor Jane Castor has warned the city's nearly 400,000 residents that if they don't evacuate, 'you are going to die.'

Startling spaghetti models show the hurricane's deadly path covering vast swathes of Florida.