TAMPA, Fla. – Hurricane Milton continues to rapidly intensify, strengthening into a major Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday.

At 8 p.m. Monday, Hurricane Milton was located at 21.9 N, 90.4 W, about 650 miles southwest of Tampa and was moving east at 10 miles per hour.

Hurricane Milton: county-by-county guide

According to the National Hurricane Center, central pressure in the eye of Milton has dropped to a near record low as the storm sets its sights on the west coast of Florida.

The National Hurricane Center says Milton could strengthen further Monday evening and Tuesday morning as it experiences light shear and very warm waters. However, radar data indicate that Milton may be at the beginning of an eyewall replacement cycle, with some evidence of a moat and a partial outer eyewall. This will likely cause the system to gradually weaken but grow larger on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Milton is expected to experience a less favorable environment with strong shear and dry air entrainment, which meteorologists say will weaken the storm.

Regardless, Hurricane Milton is expected to be a large, powerful hurricane when it makes landfall on the west coast of Florida.

READ: What is a Category 5 Hurricane?

Milton is forecast to remain a hurricane as it crosses the Florida peninsula. Life-threatening hurricane force winds, especially gusty winds, are expected to spread inland across part of the entire state.

Before Milton, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties, including all counties in the Tampa Bay Area.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton could be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.

Watches and warnings

A hurricane warning is in effect for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach north to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay.

A storm surge warning has been issued for the west coast of Florida from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay

A Flood Watch is in effect for the entire Tampa Bay area, most of Central Florida and all of South Florida.

The entire Tampa Bay area is under a flood watch through Thursday morning, along with much of Central Florida and all of South Florida.

What is the difference between a watch and a warning?

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the expected first appearance of tropical storm force winds, conditions that make outdoor preparations difficult or dangerous.

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

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A storm surge warning means there is a risk of life-threatening flooding at the indicated locations over the next 36 hours due to rising water moving inland from the coastline.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening flooding in the indicated locations over the next 48 hours as rising waters move inland from the coastline.

When will the impacts be felt in the Bay Area?

Some areas will see heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, which FOX 13 meteorologists say is not directly related to Milton.

Rain from Milton will likely arrive Wednesday and continue into Thursday before the storm dissipates.

Hurricane Milton is expected to have significant impacts on the Tampa Bay area, with several inches of widespread rain likely.

Depending on the exact path Milton takes, the heaviest rainfall over the next week is expected to occur from the I-4 corridor and southward, with several inches – up to a foot in some areas – likely.

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As for other significant impacts, such as winds and life-threatening storm surges, FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg says the point of landfall will be critical in determining where the worst of Milton is felt.

“While we have some answers today, we don’t have others,” Osterberg said. “What I can’t answer is where exactly it will make landfall and how much it will weaken before it makes landfall.”

FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto warns that even if Milton weakens before landfall, it will not reduce the storm surge. The point of landfall in the south is where the largest wave will occur, with the latest forecast showing a distance of 8 to 12 feet from Anclote south to the Fort Myers Beach area.

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