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.

Ahead of Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall as a major hurricane in Florida this week, mandatory evacuations in Tampa Bay have begun.

Across Central Florida residents are preparing for Hurricane Milton’s forecasted powerful wind and rain as it takes aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast with landfall set for midweek. The storm intensified into a Category 1 Hurricane with winds of 80 mph on Sunday afternoon but is expected to continue growing into what officials call a “life-threatening” Category 3 Hurricane.