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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane Monday morning as it barrels across the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to stay at about its current strength for the next couple of days, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Milton had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph over the southern Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hurricane and storm surge watches are in effect for much of the state\u2019s west coast, according to forecasters. Gov. Ron DeSantis also declared a state of emergency<\/a> for 51 Florida counties over the weekend, days before Milton is forecast to slam into the state as a major hurricane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The system could bring \u201cpotentially historic hurricane impacts\u201d to the Tampa Bay region, including 10 to 15 feet of storm surge, wind gusts up to 140 mph and possibly more than 2 feet of rain in some areas, according to AccuWeather forecasters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandatory evacuations go into effect Monday<\/a> in certain evacuation zones in Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is an unusual and extremely concerning forecast track for a hurricane approaching the Tampa Bay area,\u201d Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather chief meteorologist, said. \u201cMilton could rapidly intensify into a major hurricane with extreme impacts. This hurricane could create a life-threatening storm surge. Please make sure your family and friends in this area are prepared.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n It will hit less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Big Bend area as a Category 4 storm, ravaged Florida\u2019s coastal communities and much of the U.S. Southeast. Helene left millions without power, leveled neighborhoods and killed at least 232 people across six states, CNN said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union and Volusia counties fall under the governor\u2019s emergency orders in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A hurricane warning was issued for Chokoloskee in Southwest Florida north to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay, WTSP reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A storm surge is in effect for Flamingo in south Florida north to the mouth of the Suwannee River. This includes Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tropical storm watch is in place in the Florida Keys and along the Gulf Coast from Flamingo to south of Chokoloskee, as well as further north, from the mouth of the Suwannee River to Indian Pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Milton was expected to strengthen into possibly a Category 5 storm as it moved across the Gulf, some weakening is expected before landfall, forecasters said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Monday, the system is approaching the Yucatan Peninsula, which is expected to bring a life-threatening storm surge with damaging waves to areas of its northern coast, the National Hurricane Center said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n