The storm strengthens to a Category 5; path, models

This story has been updated with new information.

Hurricane Milton, which formed over the weekend in the Gulf of Mexico, intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm on Monday morning as it headed toward the west coast of the Florida Peninsula before its expected landfall in midweek.

Winds blowing at 120 mph across the Gulf heading for Florida just weeks after Helene devastated the southeastern U.S., with hurricane warnings and warnings issued across the state, with some areas potentially seeing surge life-threatening storm. , heavy rains and destructive winds.

According to USA TODAY, Milton was recorded as a Category 5 on Monday morning and is expected to maintain that intensity in the coming days. Some weakening is expected before the system reaches the coast, but Milton “will still likely be a large and powerful hurricane at landfall in Florida,” hurricane center specialist Jack Beven said.

Hurricane Milton was located about 700 miles southwest of Tampa early Monday morning, moving east-southeast at 8 miles per hour. According to USA TODAY, many Florida counties are under evacuation and most are under a state of emergency issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Mexico also issued a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Celestun to Rio Lagartos.

Some areas of the state could receive 5 to 10 inches of rain, with up to 15 inches in some isolated communities. A storm surge of 8 to 3 meters is also possible in Tampa and nearby coastal areas.

Helena The remnants of Tropical Storm Helene hit Kentucky on Friday. See weather damage.