How will Milton impact South Florida? Here’s the path and forecast

MIAMI – Milton has strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with landfall forecast for Wednesday afternoon somewhere between Tampa and Fort Myers. It is projected to weaken to a Category 3 when it makes landfall.
A hurricane watch has been issued for Lake Okeechobee. The Florida Keys are under a tropical storm watch, while hurricane, storm surge and tropical storm watches have been issued for other parts of Florida. 
A flood watch is in effect through Thursday morning in South Florida. There is the risk of “considerable flash, urban and real flooding along with the potential for moderate to major river flooding,” according to hurricane center.
Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches, with localized totals up to 15 inches, are expected across parts of the Florida Peninsula and the Keys through Wednesday night, the hurricane center said. 
Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 51 of Florida’s 67 counties, including Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties.
CBS Miami NEXT Chief Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera said Milton is not a big threat to southeast Florida, including the Keys. It mainly will impact the area with high winds and rainfall.
South Florida will receive a “one-two punch” with this system. A weaker and non-tropical area of low pressure began to swing through on Sunday and will continue on Monday. This is bringing South Florida’s first round of heavy rain and potential flooding.   
Milton was about 700 miles from Tampa as of 2 p.m. Monday with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. That is 15 mph greater than two hours earlier.
The hurricane is moving east-southeast near 9 mph and an eastward to eastern motion is expected through Monday night, the hurricane center said. After that, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the hurricane is forecast to turn toward the east and northeast. It is expected to move near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday and approach Florida’s west coast by Wednesday. 
Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall will occur throughout Tuesday. The chance of rain Tuesday is 70% during the day and 50% at night, according to the National Weather Service.
Highs will be in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 70s.
Wednesday will include windy and wet weather due to the outer rain bands associated with Hurricane Milton. Although South Florida is not included in the forecast cone, the region will be dealing with some impacts associated with Milton.     
After making landfall on the east coast of Florida, Milton is then forecast to pass through Central Florida and head to the Atlantic Ocean.
Depending on its track, Milton could bring tropical storm conditions early Wednesday for most of South Florida, though the Florida Keys could see these conditions earlier.
South Florida’s main threat continues to be the risk of rainwater flooding, with 4 to 7 inches looking likely across the area. 
Highs are forecast to be in the upper 80s and lows are expected to be in the upper 70s.
It will be cloudy with a 50% chance of rain in the morning and 30% at night, according to the National Weather Service.
Highs are expected to be in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 70s.