Watch live: Hurricane Milton live coverage

Already powerful Hurricane Milton was again gaining strength Tuesday and could double in size before slamming into west-central Florida as what could be one of the "most destructive hurricanes on record" late Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center issued the warning Tuesday, saying damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall will extend well outside the forecast cone. Hurricane warning maps show Florida blanketed in red and orange alerts. "Air Force reserve hurricane hunters find that Milton's intensity has rebounded," the hurricane center said in an advisory Tuesday afternoon. Milton had undergone stunningly rapid intensification Monday, its sustained winds reaching 180 mph. By Tuesday the wind speed dropped dramatically although still a fierce Category 4 storm. It climbed back to 155 Tuesday afternoon, just below Category 5 status. Fluctuations were expected as the storm closes in on Florida, said John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center.