Hurricane Milton was on a path to pound much of Florida/National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Milton's rapid growth into a Class 5 hurricane has National Park System units in Florida and bracing for a direct hit from the storm packing 175 mph winds and heavy rains.

While De Soto National Memorial on the west coast of Florida has been closed since Hurricane Helene pounded it, Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas national monuments on the east coast of the state closed Monday to prepare for the storm.

Canaveral National Seashore was open Monday, but the forecast on the park's website noted the posting by the National Weather Service of a hurricane watch for the region.

"Winds will strengthen to tropical storm force with gusts to hurricane force along Milton's path," the weather service said. "A narrow swath of sustained hurricane force winds are possible. The winds will knock down trees and power lines, causing power outages in some areas. All east central Florida residents and visitors should be in a safe shelter before conditions become hazardous. In addition to strong to damaging wind gusts, a few tornadoes embedded in rain bands are possible, mainly on Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night as Milton approaches east central Florida."

Timucuan Preserve closed at noon Monday, with staff noting the forecast's call for the potential of "heavy rain, flooding, high tides, and unsafe road conditions."

Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia was open, though the park noted the weather forecast and its call for heavy rainfall and storm surges of possibly 5 feet.

The storm was expected to arrive at both Dry Tortugas National Park and Everglades National Park as a tropical storm.

The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Milton will carry the risk of flash flooding to Florida, along with the "potential for moderate to major river flooding.