Hurricane Milton, a powerful and expanding storm that has fluctuated between a Category 4 and 5 as it churns in the Gulf of Mexico, is set to be a "historic storm for the west coast of Florida," according to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay.

Hurricane Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 storm Monday as the storm is projected to threaten areas of the Florida Peninsula still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Milton quickly intensified Monday morning,

Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 5 major hurricane on Monday. The storm is headed straight for Tampa Bay.