Watch live: Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida

Hurricane Milton weakened slightly Tuesday but remained an extremely powerful storm that could double in size before slamming into west-central Florida late Wednesday. "Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center, warned in an update Tuesday. Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall will extend well outside the forecast cone, he said. Milton had undergone stunningly rapid intensification Monday, its sustained winds reaching 180 mph. Early Tuesday those winds were at 145, still a fierce Category 4 storm. Fluctuations in the storm's strength were expected as it closes in on the coast, Cangialosi said.