ORLANDO, Fla. – Hurricane watches could be issued as early as late Sunday for portions of Florida as Tropical Storm Milton continues churning above warm waters near Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of the NHC’s 5 a.m. update Sunday, Milton was located about 845 miles west-southwest of Tampa.
The storm is sporting maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving east at 5 mph, the NHC said, adding it’s expected to become a hurricane Sunday night.
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Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward from Milton’s center up to 35 miles.
Steady to rapid strengthening is forecast over the next several days as the NHC reports Milton could become a major hurricane while it moves across the Gulf.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for Celestun to Cancun as interests along the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as the northwestern Bahamas, Florida and the Florida Keys, are urged to monitor Milton closely, the NHC said.
Hurricane and storm surge watches will likely be required for parts of Florida starting late Sunday, according to the update.
Rainfall amounts of 5 to 8 inches — with localized totals up to 12 inches — are expected across parts of Florida and the Keys through late Wednesday, the NHC said.
The next track comes down at 11 a.m. EDT
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday declared a state of emergency for 35 counties ahead of Milton’s anticipated Gulf Coast landfall.
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