MIAMI — A storm system in the Gulf of Mexico developed into Tropical Storm Milton on Saturday, and forecasters warned it could develop into a hurricane and hit Florida's west coast later this week.
Tropical Storm Milton was located approximately 355 miles (565 kilometers) west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and approximately 845 miles (1,360 kilometers) west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, with sustained easterly winds of up to 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour). was blowing. The National Hurricane Center in Miami announced early Sunday that winds were winding at 5 mph (8 km/h).
“Milton is expected to move slowly but rapidly intensify,” the center said, noting “an increasing risk of life-threatening impacts across portions of Florida's west coast.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties ahead of the storm's potential landfall. As many of these counties are still recovering from Hurricane Helen, DeSantis asked the Florida Department of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Transportation to assist communities in assisting with debris removal. He called for the coordination of all available resources and personnel.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but the hurricane center said the Florida Peninsula, Florida Keys, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the system's progress.
The storm is expected to strengthen and pose a life-threatening threat to parts of Florida, and a hurricane and storm surge watch will likely be in effect starting Sunday.
Parts of the state are expected to experience heavy rain starting the day, raising the risk of flash floods, urban and regional flooding, with some rivers overflowing.
“Portions of the west coast of the Florida peninsula are at increased risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts starting late Tuesday or late Wednesday. Residents in these areas should plan well and follow the advice of local authorities. “You should check the latest forecast information again,” the center said.
meanwhile, hurricane kirk A major Category 4 hurricane remained about 1,345 miles (2,165 kilometers) west-southwest of the Azores, with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles (185 kilometers per hour) late Saturday night, the center said.
Large swells from the storm caused “life-threatening wave and rip current conditions” that affected the Leeward Islands, Bermuda, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and the U.S. East Coast. The swell is expected to move north along the U.S. east coast and Canada's Atlantic coast on Sunday, reaching the Azores by Monday, the center said.
Forecasters said late Saturday that Hurricane Leslie was moving northwest across the open Atlantic Ocean with no threat of landfall.
The storm was located about 855 miles (1,375 km) west of the southernmost tip of the Cape Verde Islands and had maximum sustained wind speeds of 80 mph (128 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in place.
A storm broke out Rescue workers in the southeastern United States Afterwards, a search was conducted for the missing person. Hurricane Helen hit last week.leave trace of death and devastating damage.
