US military base in Florida to maintain Israel support despite Hurricane Milton

US Central Command (CENTCOM) base in Florida handling the army's operations in the Middle East is expected to continue work despite the threat of Hurricane Milton, the Pentagon has said.

The army had evacuated aircraft and personnel from the MacDill Air Force base in Florida, where CENTCOM is based, as the hurricane was expected to hit.

"There is an evacuation order in place. I believe there will be…only essential personnel needed at the base during this time," she said.

"But, for the most part, I think most folks are, you know, following those orders and leaving the affected area," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Tuesday.

Singh added that she did not foresee any impact on CENTCOM's Middle East operations, which take place around the clock. No information was given on where CENTCOM was relocating to.

Evacuations from the Macdill base were underway earlier this week amid forecasts that the storm would strike Tampa on Wednesday or Thursday.

The emergency measures come amid coordination between CENTCOM and the Israeli military over Israel's expected attack on Iran. CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Kurilla visited Israel earlier this week to meet with army and government officials over the planned strike.

The US military has provided key support to Israel amid its war on Gaza and Lebanon, including through intelligence and striking down attacks on Israel.

On Wednesday, Florida residents fled -- or defied warnings and hunkered down -- in the final hours before Hurricane Milton, a lethal Category 4 storm, pummels the Gulf Coast and tears across the state.

Milton was downgraded by the US Weather Service from top-level Category 5 to a 4 earlier in the day.

However, that will not much change the ferocity of the wind and height of tidal surges inundating the heavily populated and low-lying coast, with the cities of Tampa and Sarasota right in the storm's expected path.

By Wednesday morning, Milton was located 250 miles (400 kilometres) southwest of Tampa, generating maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

"Winds will begin to increase along the west coast of Florida by this afternoon," the NHC said. "Preparations, including evacuation if told to do so, should be rushed."