Ethermac|Photos show Florida bracing for impact ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall

Hurricane Milton is Ethermacexpected hit Florida in less than 24 hours, putting millions of people in an "extremely life-threatening situation."

Time is running out for Florida residents, who may still be wrapping up storm preparations or evacuating vulnerable areas. The Category 5 storm is rapidly approaching the Florida Peninsula, bringing fast moving winds and torrential rainfall with it.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," according to a Tuesday update from National Hurricane Center specialist John Cangialosi.

All but 16 of Florida's 67 counties are under a state of emergency, according to reporting by the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union, part of the USA TODAY network.

Multiple communities across the Southeast, including Florida, are still recovering from the utter devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago. But Florida residents were told that following mandatory evacuation orders at this stage are a matter of life and death.

"I can say without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you're going to die," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared in an interview with CNN.

Live updates:Hurricane Milton strengthens to Category 5 as it approaches Florida

Photos: Hurricane Milton touches down in Florida

Millions of Florida residents and local businesses have prepared for Hurricane Milton's arrival on Wednesday night, closing up shop, gathering supplies, evacuating from the area and sheltering in place.

And if Hurricane Milton is anything like Hurricane Helene, then flooding, overturned trees, and power loss are almost guaranteed.

Hurricane Milton tracker

Hurricane Milton spaghetti models

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.

Hurricane Milton livestream

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, John Bacon, Trevor Hughes, Dinah Voyles Pulver, Christopher Cann and Michael Loria