A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico has become a tropical storm and is expected to impact the South Carolina coast, according to the National Weather Service.
Tropical Storm Milton strengthened Saturday afternoon with winds around 40 miles per hour and even higher gusts.
The hurricane is forecast to be at or near “major hurricane force” when it makes landfall and could bring a risk of life-threatening impacts to Florida’s west coast as early as Tuesday, the weather service said.
Tracking indicates this will likely also affect coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina.
The storm comes as other parts of the state are recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Helene made landfall on September 26 as a Category 4 hurricane. Although it was later downgraded from a tropical storm, it tore through the Upstate and the Midlands with rain, high winds, and flooding as it headed toward the Appalachians.
At one point, nearly 2 million South Carolinians were without power, more than any other state. At least 41 people died locally, mainly from fallen trees. At least 200 people have been killed in the region, the Associated Press reported, and hundreds are still missing.
