Florida is bracing as Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 1 storm on Sunday, days before it’s expected to make landfall on the state’s Gulf Coast where communities are still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Helene.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties Saturday afternoon as the threat of another hurricane looms over Tampa Bay. Milton — currently a tropical storm — is set to make landfall as at least a Category 3 Hurricane on Wednesday as it moves northeastward over warm Gulf waters.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 counties in anticipation of Hurricane Milton making landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast this coming week. The National Hurricane Center issued its first advisory for Milton Saturday morning.