Tropical Storm Milton formed on Saturday as forecasters expect the storm to quickly strengthen into a hurricane and race toward Florida.

Tropical Storm Milton has formed on a path across the Gulf of Mexico and is likely to bring hurricane-strength wind and rain to Florida by Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center reported Saturday. Forecast models suggest the storm will strike the western part of the Florida peninsula with flooding rain, a dangerous ocean surge and damaging winds.

Officials have warned that the storm could bring life-threatening storm surge to Florida's Gulf Coast, which is still cleaning up from the damage left behind by Hurricane Helene. Flooding, heavy rainfall, and wind damage are also possible as Milton travels across Florida later this week.