Tropical Storm Milton Strengthens Continues Trek Toward Florida

Hurricane Hunters flew through Tropical Storm Milton and found it to be stronger.

Current Positon/Movement:

LOCATION...22.6N 94.9W

ABOUT 345 MI...560 KM WNW OF PROGRESO MEXICO

ABOUT 860 MI...1385 KM WSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...E OR 90 DEGREES AT 5 MPH...7 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB...29.26 INCHES

Current Watches/Warnings in Effect:

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Celestun to Cancun

Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches will likely be required for portions of Florida late today.

As of the latest advisory, the center of Tropical Storm Milton was located by NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 22.6 North, longitude 94.9 West. Milton has been moving slowly eastward overnight, and an eastward to east-northeastward motion is forecast during the next couple of days, followed by a faster northeastward motion. On the forecast track, Milton is forecast to move across the Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by midweek.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Steady to rapid strengthening is forecast during the next few days. Milton is forecast to become a hurricane later today, and it could become a major hurricane while it moves across the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb (29.26 inches).