ORLANDO, Fla. – Milton as of 2 p.m. Sunday is a hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of the 11 p.m. update, Hurricane Milton’s center was located about 765 miles west-southwest of Tampa.
The storm is sporting maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and is moving east at 7 mph, the NHC said, adding the Category 1 storm is expected to become a major hurricane on Monday.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Steady to rapid strengthening is forecast over the next several days.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Celestun to Cabo Catoche — as well as a tropical storm watch east of Cabo Catoche 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 NHC.
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.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties ahead of Milton’s anticipated Gulf Coast landfall.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: