Tropical Storm Milton news, updates in Sarasota, Manatee

5:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5

The Gulf of Mexico system has become Tropical Storm Milton and is expected to intensify quickly as it moves east. 

It is forecast to reach the west coast of Florida mid-week. Tropical-storm-force winds could reach Sarasota and Manatee counties by Wednesday morning.

12:40 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5

Tropical Depression Fourteen has formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen to hurricane status by Monday, the National Hurricane Center said Saturday.

The system could become a major hurricane while it moves across the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said in the hurricane center's 11 a.m. update. 

Maximum sustained winds near the center of the depression are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Rapid strengthening is forecast during the next few days.

Most forecast tracks has the storm heading east and making landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast of Florida. 

"We are expecting very heavy rain to start later in the day on Sunday, throughout the day on Monday and into Tuesday," said Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi in a video message Saturday morning. 

"We do have, at least, a couple of days to find out the more precise forecast," to be able to take protective measures if they are needed, she said.

Tapfumaneyi urged residents to begin making preparations now, even as the area is still reeling from the effects of flooding from Hurricane Debby in early August and devastating storm surge from Hurricane Helene a week ago.

Debris pickup in Sarasota County is continuing Saturday, in the hardest hit areas. "We have a lot of debris to pick up and they're working as fast as they can," Tapfumaneyi said.

The City of Sarasota announced on social media Saturday that parking continues to stay free on St. Armands and Lido Key until Oct. 17.