TAMPA – Millions of people across the Florida Peninsula are on alert as Hurricane Milton rapidly strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico as it continues to move toward the Sunshine State, where it is expected to bring a potentially life-threatening storm surge with damaging winds and heavy rainfall It's raining in the state this week.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials held a news conference Sunday morning, saying evacuations were likely and time was running out to prepare for the hurricane's potentially deadly impacts.

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“I urge Floridians to complete their storm preparations now and implement their plan,” said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “I strongly encourage you to evacuate. We are preparing for the largest evacuation we have most likely experienced since Hurricane Irma in 2017.”

If Hurricane Milton hits Florida, it would be the third hurricane this season after Hurricane Milton Debbie in August and Helene in September.

The situation has evolved quickly, with National Hurricane Center forecasters initially naming the storm early Saturday morning as Tropical Depression Fourteen and hours later issuing a special warning announcing the development of Tropical Storm Milton. About 24 hours later, Milton strengthened into a hurricane early Sunday afternoon.

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What's new on Hurricane Milton?

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Hurricane Milton is more than 800 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and has maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, making it a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

Milton is moving east at 6 miles per hour.

What watches and warnings are in effect for Hurricane Milton?

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There are no watches or warnings in effect for the continental United States.

However, tropical storm warnings and tropical storm watches are in effect for parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Where is Hurricane Milton heading?

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The NHC says Hurricane Milton is moving east and general movement is expected to continue throughout Sunday.

Thereafter, an east to east-northeast movement is forecast on Monday, followed by a faster northeast movement on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Hurricane Milton is expected to move north of the Yucatan Peninsula, move across the Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by midweek.