Maps show forecast path of Hurricane Milton toward Florida

Hurricane Milton was gaining steam as it strengthend into a powerful Category 3 storm Monday, with a path putting it on track to hit Florida's Gulf Coast mid-week. Forecasters predict Milton will make landfall around the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, packing 120 mph winds and drenching an area still reeling from Hurricane Helene .

As of 6 a.m. Eastern on Monday, Milton was centered about 195 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 750 miles west-southwest of Tampa. It had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving eastward through the southern Gulf of Mexico at about 8 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Path of Hurricane Milton

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

"Milton is forecast to intensify rapidly and become a major hurricane later today," the hurricane center said early Monday.

The storm is expected to remain north of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, with heavy rainfall expected as Milton makes its way northeast toward Florida. The Mexican government issued a hurricane watch from Celestun to Cabo Catoche, and a tropical storm warning from east of Cabo Catoche to Cancun.

Far more rain — up to 15 inches in some localized areas — was forecast to fall on parts of western Florida later in the week as the storm makes landfall.

Florida officials prepare for more impact

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

"I don't think there's any scenario where we don't have major impacts at this point," he said.

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

DeSantis expanded a state of emergency declaration on Sunday to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruptions, making sure they have a week's worth of food and water and were ready to hit the road.

The National Weather Service said early Monday morning that a hurricane watch was in effect for the Gulf coast of Florida from Chokoloskee north to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay and the Dry Tortugas. A storm surge watch was issued for the Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, meanwhile, coordinated with the governor and briefed President Biden Sunday on how it has staged lifesaving resources.

"I highly encourage you to evacuate" if you're in an evacuation zone, said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. "We are preparing ... for the largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely since 2017, Hurricane Irma. "

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

"All available state assets ... are being marshaled to help remove debris," DeSantis said. "We're going 24-7 ... it's all hands on deck."