Tropical Storm Milton could hit Florida [Video]

MIAMI, Fla. –

People across Florida were given notice Sunday that Milton, for now just a tropical storm off the coast of Mexico, could intensify rapidly into a major hurricane before slamming midweek into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Milton’s centre was about 860 miles (1,385 kilometres) west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, early Sunday, heading east at five mph (seven km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

“Milton is moving slowly but is expected to strengthen rapidly,” the centre said. “There is increasing confidence that a powerful hurricane with life-threatening hazards will be affecting portions of the Florida west coast around the middle of this week.”