Milton was tracking across the Gulf of Mexico bound for what could be a devastating crash along Florida's already storm-battered western coast.

Another monster hurricane is set to strike the U.S. just two weeks after the last one. Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified to Category 5 strength on Monday, less than two days after it formed as a tropical storm over the Gulf of Mexico,

Live updates tracking news and messaging from Collier County officials as Hurricane Milton makes its way toward the west coast of Florida.

Live updates tracking news and messaging from Lee County as Hurricane Milton makes its way toward the west coast of Florida.

Tropical Storm Milton is expected to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane. Sarasota and Manatee counties are directly in its current path.

Milton was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, moving east southeast at 8 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was strengthening over the southern Gulf of Mexico about 750 miles west southwest of Tampa.