WATCH: Dr. National Hurricane Center’s Michael Brennan provides update on Milton, Brevard braces for hurricane-force winds

Rainfall amounts of 6 to 10 inches are forecast for the Space Coast

REGARD: The director of the National Hurricane Center, Dr. Michael Brennan, provides an update on Tropical Storm Milton. Hurricane and storm surge warnings for Florida could be issued as early as late Sunday, as Milton is about 780 miles west-southwest of Tampa, according to the NHC’s 5 p.m. update Sunday.

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER – As of 5 p.m. today, Milton has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour. Milton is still expected to strengthen into a major hurricane early this week and remain a major hurricane as it approaches the west coast of Florida midweek.

Hurricane and storm surge warnings for Florida could be issued as early as late Sunday as Milton is about 780 miles west-southwest of Tampa, according to Sunday’s NHC update at 5 p.m.

Currently, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour and is moving east-southeast at a speed of 6 miles per hour. It is expected to reach major hurricane status on Tuesday.

Brevard County Public Works is providing free sandbags to residents starting Monday

Rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches are forecast on the Space Coast and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties before Milton makes landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday morning.

With the National Hurricane Center predicting a major hurricane will hit Florida’s west coast and bring hurricane conditions to Brevard County, longtime Central Florida meteorologist and Space Coast Daily correspondent Danny Treanor offers some sage advice and reminders on how to prepare for a hurricane prepared storm. CLICK HERE TO WATCH