TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico.
Maximum sustained winds are currently at 40 mph as the center of the storm sits in the far western Gulf of Mexico. Milton is moving north-northeast at 3mph.
Milton is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Monday morning before making landfall on the west coast of Florida by midweek.
The track keeps the storm to our south, and it will be moving more west to east than south to north.
Relative to it's movement, the worst and most widespread impacts of a hurricane always occur on the right side of its center. This is where you can find the strongest winds and highest surge. This means the south side of the storm will see the biggest impacts.
Landfall is expected on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula around the middle of this upcoming week. Current forecast brings it up to hurricane strength, potentially making landfall as a major hurricane.
There is high confidence the center of the storm will remain south of the Big Bend and South Georgia. A cold front working its way southward will act as a barrier for the area keeping the storm to the south, while also bringing in some more sunshine and cooler air later next week.
The timing of this front will determine its exact track into the state of Florida.
We will watch this storm very closely over the next few days, and those on the west coast of Florida should pay special attention.
Stay tuned to ABC 27 First To Know Weather for the latest on what will soon become Milton.
