Just days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a historic Category 4 storm, meteorologists are warning of another potentially life-threatening storm that could hit the Sunshine State next week. Tropical Storm Milton, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico early on Saturday, is forecast to intensify as it approaches the west coast of the Florida Peninsula over the next few days, the National Hurricane Center said in its 4 p.m. advisory on Saturday. The storm could potentially hit the Florida peninsula as a major hurricane by midweek. 4PM CDT Oct 5: Tropical Storm Milton is forecast to strengthen quickly and bring the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of the west coast of Florida Tuesday or Wednesday. Make sure to check back for updates through the weekend and into next week at… pic.twitter.com/ODXkMcuLAz — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 5, 2024 Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday declared a state of emergency for 35 counties in the state — including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Orange County — citing current computer modeling indicating that some areas could see up to 12 inches of rain. “Heavy rainfall, flooding, and gusty winds will cause power outages due to downed trees and powerlines due to the already vulnerable state of Florida’s vegetation and coastal infrastructure,” the governor wrote in the executive order. By doing so, DeSantis directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Transportation to “coordinate all available personnel and resources to supplement local communities as they expedite debris removal in impacted areas” — even as most of the state continues to recover from Hurricane Helene. As Tropical Storm Milton continues to strengthen in the Gulf, I have issued EO 24-214 ahead of potential landfall on Florida’s west coast this week. This EO declares a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties. As many continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, I have directed… — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 5, 2024 At 4 p.m., the center of the storm was approximately 220 miles north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, and heading toward the north-northeast at 3 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. “Steady to rapid strengthening is forecast during the next few days,” forecasters said, adding that Milton is forecast to become a hurricane by the end of the weekend, and could potentially “become a major hurricane” while it moves across the Gulf of Mexico. While currently there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, NHC officials say those in the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the storm’s progress. However, hurricane and storm surge watches will “likely be required” for portions of the Sunshine State on Sunday, officials said.