MIAMI -- A storm system brewing Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico strengthened into Tropical Storm Milton, with forecasters warning it could intensify into a hurricane headed to Florida this week.
Tropical Storm Milton was about 220 miles north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in a 1:25 p.m. EST advisory.
Though no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, the hurricane center said the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the system's progress.
The storm is forecast to strengthen and bring the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of Florida's West Coast this week, with hurricane and storm-surge watches likely being in effect Sunday. Parts of Florida were expected to have heavy rainfall beginning Sunday. The rainfall will bring the risk of flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with some river flooding.
People are also reading... Bloomington man identified in fatal crash near Tremont 1 dead, 1 critically injured by gunshots early Sunday in Normal Week 6 high school football scores for Central Illinois 18-year-old identified in fatal shooting near Illinois State University; Koos, Tarhule react to 'pop-up party' Congratulations to Pantagraph Week 5 Player of the Week, Kobe Brent of LeRoy 'Shocking to the conscience': McLean County judge sentences man who starved his dog, Winston Ferrero opens $214M Kinder Bueno production facility in Bloomington Bloomington man detained in McLean County for unlawful vehicular invasion Bloomington police confirm shots fired Thursday on East Washington Street Normal Community in driver's seat for another Big 12 title after beating Bloomington Flick: Still a team...and married nearly 80 years! Ohio girl concedes cutting off tanker that spilled chemical last year in Teutopolis, killing 5 Shots fired on Raab Road early Saturday morning Eureka rallies around 14-year-old severely injured in ATV accident Heyworth coffee shop owner receives $15K grant
Meanwhile, Hurricane Kirk remained a Category 4 major hurricane, and its swells were expected to spread to the East Coast of the United States, the Atlantic Coast of Canada and the Bahamas on Saturday night and Sunday. Forecasters warned the waves could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Kirk was expected to weaken starting Saturday, the center said.
The storms churned in the Atlantic as rescuers in the U.S. Southeast continued to search for people unaccounted for more than a week after Hurricane Helene left a trail of death and catastrophic damage.
Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.