Florida remains vigilant as Tropical Storm Milton takes shape in the Gulf, following closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene.
Tropic Storm Milton emerged in the western Gulf on Saturday morning, not long after it transformed into a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center's special alert. This is Milton, the 13th named storm this season, and it's advancing ahead of schedule – it usually doesn't appear until October 25.
Milton is predicted to intensify, potentially leading to severe risks for parts of west Florida by the following week.
As Milton travels eastward to northeastward across the Gulf of Mexico, it's expected to rapidly intensify and attain or even surpass major hurricane strength upon reaching the Florida Peninsula's west coast mid-week, as per the hurricane center.
Hurricane and storm surge warnings are likely to be issued for various parts of Florida's coastline by Sunday, with precautions needed for potential dangerous surges in areas affected by Helene just recently.
Rainfall of significant proportions might affect certain areas of Mexico in the next day or two, followed by plentiful rainfall in Florida from late Saturday to the middle of next week.
The mortality toll from Helene, which struck Florida's Big Bend on September 26 as a Category 4 storm, has surpassed 200 fatalities across six states. The storm left destruction over a 500-mile path, including catastrophic flooding, destructive winds, and power outages.
Helene ranks among the most significant Gulf of Mexico storms of the past century.
At present, forecasts suggest widespread amounts of 4 to 6 inches of rain for nearly the entire state, stretching from Gainesville to Key West, with isolated regions seeing up to 10 inches of rain through Thursday. Tampa alone has registered more than 20 inches of precipitation exceeding annual averages already. Consequently, Melbourne, Jacksonville, Naples, and Fort Myers have each experienced surplus rainfall in excess of a foot so far this year.
Storm surges pose a mounting risk for the Florida Peninsula as early as late Tuesday or Wednesday. Additionally, damaging winds, tornadoes, and waterspouts are expected during the following week.
The hurricane center has alerted residents of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and the Bahamas to remain vigilant for any potential impacts over the weekend and early into the next week.
CNN Meteorologist Elisa Raffa contributed to this report.
The weather forecast indicates that Milton might bring heavy rainfall to parts of Florida from late Saturday to the middle of next week, potentially surpassing annual average precipitation in some areas. The intensifying Tropic Storm Milton could also lead to dangerous surges, posing a risk for the Florida Peninsula as early as late Tuesday or Wednesday.
