Florida’s 825 miles of sandy beaches have faced relentless erosion from repeated hurricanes, and as Hurricane Milton approaches Tampa and the Gulf Coast, officials are warning of “severe” coastal changes.

Kara Doran, a supervisory physical scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), highlighted the heightened vulnerability of Florida’s west coast due to damage from Hurricane Helene just weeks earlier. “The significance of the coastal change forecast for Milton’s impact on the Florida west coast cannot be overstated,” Doran said in a Monday post on the USGS website. “Communities are more vulnerable to this storm’s impacts due to the erosion that occurred recently from Helene.”

Hurricane Helene caused widespread overwash, inundation, and dune erosion along much of the west coast, leaving coastal areas with diminished protection. The USGS estimates that Milton’s storm surge and waves could cause 100% of ocean-facing beaches along the Gulf Coast to experience erosion and overwash.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reports that hundreds of miles of the state’s shoreline are now critically eroded, threatening upland development, wildlife habitats, and cultural resources.

Hurricane Milton adds to a growing list of powerful storms—such as Ian, Irma, Matthew, and Michael—that have reshaped Florida’s shorelines, particularly along the Panhandle.