Hurricane Milton reaches Category 2 strength while taking aim at Florida's west coast

Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 2 storm early Monday morning as it remained on course to make landfall on Florida's western coast.

In its 4 a.m. CDT update , the National Hurricane Center located Milton about 195 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and 750 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Fla.

It was moving east-southeast at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, making it a Category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Forecasters warned that it will intensify rapidly and become a "major hurricane" later Monday en route to making landfall around Wednesday along Florida's west coast.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Celestun to Rio Lagartos and a hurricane watch was in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cancun and a tropical storm watch was in effect for the Florida Gulf coast from Flamingo to South of Chokoloskee and the Florida Gulf coast north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass.

A storm surge watch was in effect for the Flordia Gulf coast from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.

"Milton is forecast to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula and across the southern Gulf of Mexico today and Tuesday and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday," the NHC said.

In a discussion on the storm, the NHC noted that Milton should strengthen over the next few days into a Category 4 hurricane, with winds between 130 and 156 mph.

While forecasters are stating that it is too soon to specify the exact strength of the storm at landfall, or pinpoint its exact landfall location, the NHC warned of "an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of Florida," beginning early Wednesday, with heavy rainfall to start Monday.

Portions of the Florida Peninsula and the Keys are to receive between 5 and 10 inches of rain, with some areas to receive up to 15 inches, through Wednesday night, raising the risk of "considerable flash, urban and areal flooding," the NHC said.

Florida's west coast has already been hit by two hurricanes this season.

Hurricane Helene hit the coast near Perry in the Big Bend Region on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 storm.

Hurricane Debby hit nearby Steinhatchee as a Category 1 storm on Aug. 5.

Milton, the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is one of three churning in the Atlantic, but is the only posing a threat to land. The other two are: Kirk, a Category 3 storm; and Leslie, which became a hurricane late Friday.