Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Tropical Storm Milton intensified into hurricane status Sunday as it made its way through the Gulf of Mexico on a continued path toward the Florida Peninsula, which is still facing recovery efforts just days removed from Hurricane Helene's devastation, the National Hurricane Center announced via USA TODAY.
Milton was reported to have reached sustained winds of 80 MPH, which were "steady and rapid strengthening" over the coming days, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was previously reported to be expected to become "an intense hurricane with multiple life-threatening hazards" ahead of its expected path through the coastline north and south of the Tampa Bay region.
Milton was reported to be 365 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, which is located 855 west-southwest of the Tampa region, with maximum sustained winds estimated to be 45 MPH at 2:00 a.m. ET on Sunday. The storm was reportedly "moving slowly but expected to strengthen rapidly" according to the National Hurricane Center, which expected a "risk of life-threatening impacts increasing for portions of the Florida west coast."
A tropical storm warning was already in effect for the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, which stretched from Celestun to Cancun, as of Sunday morning. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also preemptively declared a state of emergency for 35 counties on Saturday (October 5) as the state continues its recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene's devastation.