Forecasters are urging people in Florida to make preparations or leave their homes today, as the National Hurricane Center confirmed that Milton is a "catastrophic Category 5 hurricane" and will hit Florida later today or early tomorrow as a major storm.

Three shelters will open in Brevard County on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.

Florida officials are urging residents to evacuate now as Hurricane Milton intensifies and sets its sights on the state's west coast. Hours before the storm strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday,