Milton has intensified into a hurricane and Florida's coastal residents face "life-threatening impacts," according to the National Hurricane Center, 10 days after Helene struck the state. Milton is expected to landfall as a major hurricane by midweek,

Tropical Storm Milton is intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to become a major hurricane of at least Category 3 intensity by Tuesday. Threat level: Milton is forecast to hit the storm-weary west coast of Florida on Wednesday into Thursday as a major hurricane.

"Given the track over the very deep warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and little shear for the next couple of days, rapid intensification is explicitly forecast," NHC hurricane specialist Eric Blake said at 10 a.