Florida could see a Category 2 hurricane hit next week, bringing surge and high winds to the recovering west coast and serious flood risks to South and Central Florida. The National Hurricane Center’s first cone of uncertainty for Tropical Depression 10 puts it on an eastward path through the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida’s west coast on Wednesday — a second blow for a region still catching its breath from the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Milton is likely to form in the Gulf of Mexico and move toward landfall somewhere along the coast of Florida, then move east across the state, according to the latest forecasts. The potential path is wide,