**Tropical Storm Milton Strengthens, Florida Brace for Hurricane Impact**

Tropical Storm Milton has emerged in the Gulf of Mexico, and forecasters warn that it is likely to intensify into a hurricane soon and head toward Florida. The National Hurricane Center noted on Saturday that Milton is poised to develop into a "near major hurricane," with potential wind speeds reaching 110 mph as it approaches the Gulf coast of Florida, especially near Tampa, by mid-week.

Although all hurricanes pose serious dangers, Category 3 hurricanes and above can cause particularly catastrophic damage, including life-threatening winds, storm surges, and floods. On Friday, experts raised concerns about heavy rainfall accompanying the storm. The latest projections indicate that Florida could experience substantial rainfall from Milton as early as Sunday.

Currently, Milton is positioned about 220 miles north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, with sustained winds at 40 mph. It's expected to accelerate east-northeast across the Gulf of Mexico, rapidly gaining strength to become a hurricane by Monday or Tuesday. The west coast of the Florida peninsula is on high alert for potential storm surges and fierce winds starting late Tuesday or Wednesday. This storm’s proximity to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago has heightened preparedness efforts.

The National Hurricane Center urges residents across the Florida peninsula to finalize their hurricane preparedness plans and stay updated via official forecasts and advisories.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Kirk is stirring up significant swells in the Atlantic Ocean and these are likely to affect the U.S. East Coast over the weekend. Positioned around 1000 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, Kirk's swells are expected to reach the U.S., Atlantic Canada, the Bahamas by Sunday, and the Azores by Monday. The NHC has warned about potentially life-threatening surf and rip currents due to these swells. Currently a Category 3 hurricane, Kirk has sustained winds near 120 mph with gusts extending hurricane-force conditions as far as 60 miles from its center. The storm is anticipated to remain powerful over the coming days but may weaken as it turns northeast on Sunday.

In the tropical east Atlantic, Hurricane Leslie, categorized as a Category 1 hurricane, is situated about 785 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands. Leslie, which isn't expected to impact populated areas, is moving west-northwest at approximately 7 mph and is projected to change direction to northwest from Saturday night through Tuesday. Leslie's current sustained winds are about 80 mph, with potential for strengthening on Saturday, before a gradual weakening expected to begin on Sunday. The hurricane-force winds from Leslie extend up to 15 miles from its center.