A storm system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico intensified into Tropical Storm Milton on Saturday, and forecasters warned it could strengthen to a hurricane and hit Florida’s west coast next week.
Tropical Storm Milton was about 245 miles (395 kilometers) north of Veracruz, Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in an afternoon statement. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and was moving to the north-northeast at 3 mph (6 km/h).
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties ahead of the storm’s potential landfall. With many of these counties still recovering from Hurricane Helene, DeSantis asked the Florida Department of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Transportation to coordinate all available resources and personnel to supplement local communities as they expedite the removal of the debris.
While there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the hurricane center said the Florida Peninsula, Florida Keys, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and the northwestern Bahamas should watch the system’s progress.
The storm is forecast to strengthen and bring the risk of life-threatening impacts to parts of Florida, with a hurricane and storm surge watch likely in effect Sunday. Heavy rainfall is expected to begin in parts of the state today, threatening flash, urban and local flooding, along with some river flooding.
“There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and gusty winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida peninsula beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday.” Residents in these areas should make sure they have their hurricane plan, follow any advice given by local authorities and check back for forecast updates,” the center said.
Farther east, Hurricane Leslie was moving over the open Atlantic and posed no threat to land, forecasters said.
The storm was located about 810 miles (1,305 kilometers) west-southwest of the southernmost islands of Cape Verde and had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Kirk remains a major Category 4 hurricane and waves from the system are affecting the Leeward Islands, Bermuda and the Greater Antilles, forecasters said. Waves from the storm were expected to spread to the East Coast of the United States, the Atlantic coast of Canada and the Bahamas on Saturday night into Sunday.
Forecasters warned that waves could cause life-threatening surf conditions and rip currents.
Kirk was expected to lose weight starting Saturday, the center said.
While there were no coastal warnings or watches in effect for Kirk, the center said those in the Azores, where waves could hit Monday, should monitor the storm’s development.
Kirk was about 1,140 (1,835 kilometers) northeast of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kilometers per hour).
Storms raged as rescuers across the southeastern United States searched for people missing after Hurricane Helena struck last week, leaving a trail of death and catastrophic damage in its wake.
