Hurricane Milton has intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane by midweek as it approaches Florida's west coast. Currently located about 815 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Milton is expected to bring significant impacts including heavy rainfall of 5 to 8 inches and potentially destructive winds exceeding 120 mph. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties and urged residents to prepare for possible evacuations, emphasizing the need for hurricane preparedness plans. Emergency management officials are preparing for what could be the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017, with resources allocated for fuel and shelter along evacuation routes. The National Hurricane Center is closely monitoring Milton, with storm surge watches likely to be issued soon as the storm moves across the Gulf of Mexico. The projected landfall is expected near Tampa Bay, with residents in affected areas advised to heed evacuation orders and prepare for hazardous conditions.