The Bahamas in under a tropical storm warning as dangerous Milton churns toward Florida. Here’s what you should expect

As Category 5 Hurricane Milton churns toward Florida, the Bahamas is under a tropical storm warning beginning early Thursday morning, significantly impacting the northern islands—Abaco, Grand Bahama and Bimini.

Florida is expected to experience fierce a hurricane with a direct hit to Tampa and St Petersburg with tall surges and floodings.

Though the Bahamas is not in the direct pathway of the ferocious hurricane, these islands will experience adverse effects in the next 36 hours.

“Do all you can to stay safe,” Prime Minister Philip Davis warned at a press conference on Tuesday evening. “Prepare now.”

The Bahamas is on the outer peripherals of the hurricane and will experience tropical-force winds. New Providence, Eleuthera and Andros will experience winds, extensive floodings and heavy rainfalls.

Davis announced the closure of schools on these islands and urged residents to prepare.

Meteorologists predict Grand Bahama and Abaco will experience winds and ‘squally’ conditions while Bimini will get gust winds.

Hurricane Milton had weakened to a Category 4 storm but strengthened again to a Category 5 storm Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Its wind speeds have increased past the Category 5 threshold. The storm is located about 480 miles (775 kilometers) from Tampa as of about 5 p.m. EDT, and has sustained wind speeds of 165 mph (270 kph), the hurricane center said. The hurricane center also extended a storm surge and hurricane warnings on Florida and Georgia’s east coasts.

Tropical storm-force winds will accompany the storm because Milton is considered a large hurricane. Winds are predicted to cause widespread damage to property and trees and leave millions without electricity across Florida.

An extreme flash flood risk — the highest level — is in effect for Tampa to Orlando to Daytona.