Tropical storm Milton forms in the Gulf of Mexico heading toward Florida.

Tropical Depression 14 intensified in just a few hours and is now Tropical Storm Milton, with the possibility of reaching hurricane status soon and impacting the west coast of Florida, likely on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami (NHC).

"It is expected to continue strengthening, which would pose a risk of impacts that could endanger lives in parts of the west coast of Florida next week," noted the NHC in its most recent update on the weather phenomenon.

Milton's maximum sustained winds now reach 40 mph (65 km/h), with stronger gusts, and it is moving to the east-northeast.

The storm is located in the Gulf of Mexico, about 355 kilometers northeast of Veracruz and 590 kilometers northwest of Progreso, both Mexican territories.

The National Weather Service (NWS) of the United States anticipates that Milton will "rapidly intensify" as it moves northeast across the Gulf of Mexico.

It is likely to reach or approach major hurricane status when it arrives on the west coast of Florida in the middle of next week.

In light of this situation, the NWS warns of "an increasing risk of storm surges and potentially deadly winds" for parts of the west coast of Florida starting Tuesday or Wednesday.

Residents of the affected areas are urged to have their hurricane emergency plan ready, follow the recommendations of local authorities, and stay informed about forecast updates.

Intense rainfall is expected in Florida this Sunday and Monday, with a risk of flash floods.

The news is a harsh blow for the Sunshine State, which is still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which last week left at least 215 dead in the United States and hundreds missing after reaching category 4.

Helene made landfall in northwest Florida on September 26. The severe weather phenomenon caused the destruction of roads, bridges, and towns, as well as leaving more than 700,000 homes without electricity, primarily in North Carolina, where the death toll exceeded one hundred.

Helene was the deadliest hurricane in the United States since Katrina in 2005, which claimed more than 1,800 lives.