Residents across Florida have been put on alert as Tropical Storm Milton, currently situated off the coast of Mexico, is forecasted to rapidly strengthen into a major hurricane before making landfall along the storm-battered Gulf Coast later this week.
As of early Sunday, Milton's center was approximately 860 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, moving east at 5 mph with sustained winds of 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The hurricane center has issued warnings of the potential for Milton to evolve into a powerful hurricane with life-threatening conditions, particularly impacting portions of the Florida west coast by midweek.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 35 counties in anticipation of the storm's arrival. These counties, still in the process of recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, are urged to prepare for potential hazards and expedite debris removal efforts.
Residents in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and the northwestern Bahamas are advised to closely monitor Milton's progress. Heavy rainfall is expected ahead of the storm, with additional rainfall likely to cause flooding in Florida, where up to a foot of rain could accumulate in some areas by Wednesday night.
The hurricane center has highlighted the increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts along the west coast of the Florida Peninsula starting late Tuesday or Wednesday. Residents in these areas are urged to have their hurricane plans ready, follow guidance from local authorities, and stay updated on the evolving forecast.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season remains active, with ongoing search and rescue operations in the U.S. Southeast following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Kirk has weakened to a Category 2 storm in the open Atlantic, generating hazardous surf conditions for Bermuda and the U.S. and Canadian coastlines. Hurricane Leslie, while maintaining strength over the open Atlantic, poses no immediate threats to land.
