Tropical Storm Milton is forecast to strengthen and bring the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of Florida's West Coast this week.

CURRENT POSITION/MOVEMENT:

LOCATION...22.3N 95.3W

ABOUT 220 MI...355 KM NNE OF VERACRUZ MEXICO

ABOUT 365 MI...590 KM WNW OF PROGRESO MEXICO

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 15 DEGREES AT 3 MPH...6 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES

There are no current watches or warnings in effect, although forecasters say hurricane and storm surge watches will likely be issued for portions of Florida on Sunday.

As of the latest advisory, the center of Tropical Storm Milton was located near latitude 22.3 North, longitude 95.3 West. The depression is moving toward the north-northeast near 3 mph. A slow northeastward or east-northeastward motion is expected during the next day or so. A faster east-northeastward to northeastward motion is forecast by Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the depression is forecast to remain over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night, then move across the south-central Gulf of Mexico on Monday and Tuesday, and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by midweek.

Maximum sustained winds are 40 with higher gusts. Rapid strengthening is forecast during the next few days. The storm is forecast to become a hurricane by early Monday. The system could become a major hurricane while it moves across the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

Rainfall: The system may produce rainfall of 2 to 4 inches across portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba. Areas of heavy rainfall will also impact portions of Florida Sunday and Monday well ahead of the tropical system, with heavy rainfall more directly related to the system expected by later Tuesday through Wednesday. This rainfall brings the risk of flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with minor to isolated moderate river flooding.

Gaby Calderon