People across Florida were warned that Milton could rapidly intensify into a major hurricane before slamming into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast midweek.

Rapidly intensifying Hurricane Milton is on track to hit Florida midweek, bringing more storm surge and flood warnings to weather-battered residents recovering from the disastrous impact of Helene. Milton was a Category 1 storm with winds reaching about 85 mph late Sunday,

Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, are in the forecast path of Hurricane Milton, which could rapidly intensify into a dangerous, life-threatening major hurricane.