Maps show the track of Hurricane Milton as forecasters predict landfall in Florida this week

Hurricane Milton On Monday, the storm strengthened into a strong Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour, which is expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast by midweek. Forecasters expect Milton to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday or early Thursday, flooding much of a state that is still under pressure Hurricane Helene.

Major hurricanes are those that reach Category 3 or higher Saffir-Simpson wind scalewhich means the sustained wind speed is at least 111 miles per hour. Sustained winds of 130 miles per hour classify a storm as a Category 4, and 157 miles per hour means a Category 5 storm.

As of 8 a.m. Eastern time Monday, the center of Milton was about 165 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 745 miles west-southwest of Tampa.

Path of Hurricane Milton

A map from the National Hurricane Center shows Milton continuing to strengthen as a major hurricane as it approaches the west coast of Florida.

“The hurricane is forecast to rapidly strengthen in Milton,” the hurricane center said early Monday, noting that further strengthening was forecast later in the day.

The storm is expected to continue north of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Heavy rain is expected as it moves northeast from Milton toward Florida. The Mexican government issued a hurricane warning from Celestun to Rio Lagartos, a hurricane warning from Celestun to Cabo Catoche and a tropical storm warning east of Cabo Catoche to Cancun.

The National Weather Service said early Monday morning that a hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee north to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay and Dry Tortugas.

A storm surge warning has been issued for Florida's Gulf Coast from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Storm surge in the Tampa Bay area could reach up to 12 feet above the ground.

Significantly more rain was forecast to fall in parts of West Florida later in the week – up to 15 inches in some areas – as the storm makes landfall.

Officials in Florida are preparing for further impacts

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that while it remained to be seen where Milton would strike, it was clear Florida would be hit hard.

“I don’t think there’s a scenario where we don’t have a major impact at this point,” he said.

“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to make sure your hurricane preparedness plan is implemented,” DeSantis said. “If you are on the barrier islands on the west coast of Florida, just assume you will be asked to leave the country.”

DeSantis expanded the state of emergency declaration to 51 counties on Sunday, saying Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruptions and make sure they have a week's worth of food and water and are ready to hit the streets.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, meanwhile, coordinated with the governor and briefed President Biden on Sunday on how it deployed life-saving resources ahead of the storm.

“I strongly recommend that you evacuate” if you are in an evacuation zone, said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “We are preparing … for the largest evacuation we have ever seen, most likely since 2017, Hurricane Irma.”

Up to 4,000 National Guard troops are helping state crews clear debris, DeSantis said.

“All available state resources … will be mobilized to assist with debris removal,” DeSantis said. “We’re on duty 24/7… it’s all hands on deck.”