Milton strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday afternoon with landfall forecast Wednesday as a major hurricane from Tampa to Fort Myers.

Hurricane Milton began its turn toward Florida on Tuesday still a powerful Category 4 hurricane with a forecast landfall near Tampa Bay and projected path that will cut through Central Florida.

Milton has exploded in strength in the Gulf of Mexico and is now a Category 3 major hurricane packing sustained winds of 120 mph with higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane is forecast to reach at least Category 4 strength early this week as it tracks east across the Gulf toward Florida.