Forecasters say a storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico that is likely to become a tropical storm could intensify into a hurricane that could impact parts of Florida in the coming days

A new storm is forecast to strengthen to Hurricane Milton before taking aim on Florida this week. The storm, currently a tropical depression churning in the Gulf of Mexico, will become Tropical Storm Milton this weekend.

Tropical Depression 14 has formed in the western Gulf of Mexico. It is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Milton over the next 12 hours, then undergo a period of rapid intensification before it makes landfall as what is currently forecast to be a Category 2 hurricane across the west coast of Florida on Wednesday.

Less than 10 days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, the state is now bracing for another potential storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico.

A nascent tropical storm, to be named Milton, gathered strength in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. Threat level: Milton, which is likely to intensify into a hurricane by Monday, is forecast to hit the storm-weary west coast of Florida by midweek next week.