Hurricane Milton continues to rapidly intensify in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to make landfall on Florida's west coast as a major hurricane on Wednesday.

Current Position/Movement:

LOCATION...22.4N 93.8W

ABOUT 275 MI...440 KM WNW OF PROGRESO MEXICO

ABOUT 805 MI...1295 KM WSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...E OR 100 DEGREES AT 7 MPH...11 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...983 MB...29.03 INCHES

Watches/Warnings in Effect:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Celestun to Cabo Catoche

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Celestun to Cancun

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

Storm Surge and Hurricane Watches will likely be issued for portions of Florida tonight or early Monday.

As of the latest advisory, the center of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 22.4 North, longitude 93.8 West. Milton is moving toward the east near 7 mph (11 km/h), and this general motion is expected today. An eastward to east-northeastward motion is forecast on Monday, followed by a faster northeastward motion on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the forecast track, Milton is forecast to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula and across the southern Gulf of Mexico Monday and Tuesday and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Milton is forecast to rapidly intensify during the next couple of days and become a major hurricane on Monday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 983 mb (29.03 inches).