The storm grew into a major Category 3 hurricane within less than two days after it developed in the Gulf of Mexico. Milton comes less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene inundated the Tampa Bay region with storm surge, causing devastating flooding to coastal areas.

TAMPA, Fla. ( WFLA) — Tropical Storm Milton is expected to become a hurricane on Sunday, and a major hurricane by midweek, according to the National Hurricane Center. In an 11 a.m. update, the NHC said their NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft “finds a stronger Milton.” It has current maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and is moving east at 5 mph.

Milton has rapidly intensified into a category 5 hurricane, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Monday. Milton is located about 735 miles (1175 km) southwest of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (250 kph),

Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified over the Gulf of Mexico and became a Category 4 hurricane on Monday, October 7, forecasters said.Satellite imagery released by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University shows lightning in the storm’s eyewall on Monday morning.

Milton strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane Monday as Florida gears up for what could be its biggest evacuation in seven years as the storm headed toward population centers including Tampa and Orlando.