BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – First Alert: Milton is a major Category 4 hurricane as of late this morning. Milton was a Category 5 Monday night which made Milton the most powerful hurricane to develop in the Gulf of Mexico since Rita in 2005. The storm is expected to make landfall near St. Pete Beach/St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay, late Wednesday as a major hurricane. This storm is expected to be catastrophic for the west coast of Florida. Storm surge could be over 12 feet and winds gusting upwards of 125 mph at landfall.