Tropical Storm Milton developed in the western Gulf of Mexico Saturday, the National Hurricane Center announced.
Hurricane center forecasters say Milton is in an area of low wind shear and other factors favorable for development.
"These conditions are expected to allow for steady to rapid strengthening over the next few days," said Daniel Brown, Branch Chief at the hurricane center.
While intensification is expected to be slow for the next 24 hours, rapid intensification is likely after a day-and-a-half.
Intensity forecasts call for Milton to be a Category Two hurricane before landfall somewhere on the Gulf coast of the Florida Peninsula by mid-to-late week.




