Hurricane Milton strengthened Monday to a powerful Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, on a track expected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast by midweek. Forecasters predict Milton will make landfall in the Tampa Bay area early Wednesday or Thursday, flooding much of a state still reeling. Hurricane Helene.

Major hurricanes are hurricanes that reach Category 3 or higher Saffir-Simpson wind scalemeaning sustained winds will be at least 110 mph. Sustained winds of 130 mph elevate a storm to a Category 4, and 155 mph means a Category 5 storm.

As of 8 a.m. Eastern on Monday, Milton was about 165 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 700 miles west-southwest of Tampa.

Path of Hurricane Milton

A map from the National Hurricane Center shows Milton continuing to strengthen as a major hurricane as it approaches the west coast of Florida.

“Milton is expected to intensify rapidly,” the hurricane center said early Monday, noting that additional strengthening was forecast throughout the day.

The storm is expected to remain north of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, and heavy rains are expected as Milton moves northeast toward Florida. The Mexican government has issued a hurricane warning from Celestun to Rio Lagartos, a hurricane warning from Celestun to Cabo Catoche, and a tropical storm warning from east of Cabo Catoche to Cancun.

The National Weather Service said early Monday morning that a hurricane watch was in effect for Florida’s Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee north to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay and the Dry Tortugas.

A storm surge watch was issued for Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Storm surge in the Tampa Bay area could reach up to 12 feet above ground level.

Much more rain — up to 18 inches in some localized areas — was forecast to fall on parts of West Florida later in the week as the storm makes landfall.

Florida officials are preparing for more impact

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that while it remained to be seen where Milton would strike, it was clear Florida would be hit hard.

“I don’t think there’s a scenario where we don’t have major consequences right now,” he said.

“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to make sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” DeSantis said. “If you’re on the west coast of Florida, the barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”

DeSantis expanded the state of emergency to 51 counties on Sunday, saying Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruptions so they can have a week’s supply of food and water and be ready to hit the road.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, meanwhile, coordinated with the governor and briefed President Biden on Sunday on how it deployed lifesaving resources ahead of the storm.

“I strongly encourage you to evacuate” if you are in an evacuation zone, said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “We’re preparing for the largest evacuation we’ve seen, probably since 2017, Hurricane Irma.”

As many as 4,000 National Guard troops are helping state workers remove debris, DeSantis said.

“All available state resources are being deployed to help remove the debris,” DeSantis said. “We’re going 24/7… it’s all hands on deck.”