Those speeds increased by 95 mph in 24 hours and by 120 mph in 36 hours.  The storm, now about 630 miles from Tampa, rapidly strengthened from Category 2 to 5 in just a few hours Monday. By Tuesday,

As Hurricane Milton intensified on its path toward Florida's Gulf Coast, the strength of the system increased the severity of the storm surge forecast.

Life-threatening storm surges are expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast this week with the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which was upgraded Monday afternoon into a Category 5 hurricane over the southern Gulf of Mexico.