Tampa experiences continuous rainfall as Hurricane Milton is predicted to hit the region as a Category 4 storm.

As Floridians rush to prepare for Hurricane Milton, steady rain hit the Tampa area Wednesday morning and winds are expected to increase in the afternoon. The storm continues to fluctuate in intensity as it approaches the state's west coast and is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, the second-highest rating.

On Monday, the National Hurricane Center announced that the storm had intensified into a Category 5 storm. However, by Wednesday morning, it had weakened to a Category 4 with sustained winds of up to 155 mph. The NHC stated that the storm would remain a hurricane as it crossed the Florida peninsula.

A storm surge warning is in effect for the central to southern west coast of Florida, including Tampa, as indicated by the NHC. The warning states that there is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 36 hours in the specified locations.

Over 6 million individuals in more than 10 counties have been issued evacuation orders, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who urged immediate action on Wednesday, stating, "Your life is in grave danger if you do not act now - every second counts."

According to the NHC, the hurricane is predicted to hit the land late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.