Several Florida ports suspended operations on Tuesday in anticipation of Hurricane Milton, a storm projected to intensify and become a powerful, life-threatening hurricane before making landfall. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Category 5 Hurricane Milton to strike west-central Florida on Wednesday night, with the storm expected to double in size prior to landfall. The hurricane center warned, "Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida." The National Weather Service in Tampa described the situation as "an extremely life-threatening situation," a sentiment echoed by officials, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who starkly advised residents on CNN that they "are going to die" if they disregard evacuation orders.

Port Tampa Bay ceased all incoming and outgoing vessel traffic Tuesday morning, anticipating gale-force winds later in the day. While shipping channels were closed, landside operations continued. SeaPort Manatee also closed to vessel traffic on Tuesday but maintained landside operations. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, ports in Key West, Fort Myers, and St. Petersburg were closed on Tuesday. Ports in Fort Pierce, Miami, Canaveral, Fernandina, Jacksonville, and Panama City remained open, albeit with restrictions.

On Monday, President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida, authorizing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.