The storm system Milton strenthed into a tropical storm late Saturday — with forecasters warning the tempest could intensify into another major hurricane before making landfall sometime around Tampa or Sarasota later this week.

The National Hurricane Center warned the storm was quickly turning into “an intense hurricane with multiple life-threatening hazards” that would impact portions of the west coast of Florida’s Peninsula beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday.

Forecasters predict Milton will likely reach hurricane status with sustained winds of 74 mph by Sunday night, before becoming a Category 3 storm with winds of at least 111 mph in less than 72 hours.

Milton was churning about 355 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 845 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph while heading east at 5 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday morning.

“Milton is moving slowly but is expected to strengthen rapidly,” forecaster said, adding that there is a “risk of life-threatening impacts increasing for portions of the Florida west coast.”

The storm may pass south of the Florida Big Bend and is not expected to bring as much surge as Helene brought to the region last week. However, areas that saw storm surge with Helene — including from Pinellas County to Naples — could see storm surge again, the Weather Channel warned.

Heavy rainfall was expected to pound the Sunshine State ahead of the system’s arrival, and flood watches were already in place for much of the peninsula Sunday morning.

“There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday. Residents in these areas should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place, follow any advice given by local officials, and check back for updates to the forecast,” the hurricane center said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis preemptively declared a state of emergency in 35 counties ahead of the storm’s expected landfall. The governor also asked the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Transportation to coordinate all available resources ahead of the storm, as many counties are still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s devastation.

Additional hurricane and storm surge warnings will likely go into effect later Sunday.

As Milton moves closer to making landfall, rescuers continue searching for people unaccounted for following Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic damage and killed over 230 people in several southeast states just last week.

With Post wires.

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With Post wires.