Hurricane Milton, a powerful and expanding storm that has fluctuated between a Category 4 and 5 as it churns in the Gulf of Mexico, is set to be a "historic storm for the west coast of Florida," according to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay.

Hurricane Milton continues to move and strengthen today (Oct. 9) in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to cause heavy rain, storm surge, flooding, strong wind gusts and high surf in some areas, including the Naples Pier, which is still closed after it was damage by Hurricane Ian two years ago.

Hurricane Milton intensifies as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. What we know about the potentially devastating hurricane.