TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Milton formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s 1:25 p.m. update, the system had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving north-northeastward at 3 mph.
The NHC forecasts the storm to continue to strengthen and bring “the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of the West Coast of Florida next week.”
“We expect a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane to track across the state late Tuesday night into Wednesday,” Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Rebecca Barry said.
As of this report, there have been no watches or warnings issued by the NHC.
“It’s too soon to tell what areas will be impacted the most, as that will depend heavily on landfall location,” Rebecca Barry added.
The NHC anticipates gusty winds and heavy rainfall to be dumped over Florida and parts of Mexico, beginning late this weekend and into early next week.
Max Defender 8’s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli said heavy downpours will begin Sunday as the first wave of moisture reaches Florida’s coast. A pattern of rainfall and dry breaks will continue through Tuesday.
“Given that the ground is saturated after one of the rainiest wet seasons on record, any downpours will lead to flooding,” Berardelli said.
The exact track of the storm, and how strong it will be when it likely reaches Florida by Wednesday, is still unknown, but 5 to 10 inches of rainfall from Central to South Florida is possible.
Hurricane Kirk and Hurricane Leslie
A tropical wave emerged off the coast of Africa on Friday. Within seven days, it has a 30% chance of development, as it moves across the Atlantic.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic, Hurricane Kirk remained a major hurricane with 120 mph winds. The NHC expects large swells to reach the U.S. East Coast by Sunday.
Hurricane Leslie, located in the Tropical East Atlantic, has slightly strengthened as it continues its track west-northwestward. It has 80 mph maximum sustained winds.