Hurricane Milton is headed toward the Florida coast, and it’s expected to grow in size and remain “extremely dangerous,” according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm “rapidly” intensified to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday, the agency said.

Damaging winds and “a life-threatening storm surge” are expected on the northern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula today, forecasters said.

As the storm reaches Florida and travels west across the state, it is expected to remain a strong hurricane and bring “life-threatening hurricane-force winds” inland, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The National Hurricane Center said preparations to protect life and property in the warning areas in Florida should be complete by Tuesday night. The storm is expected to approach Florida’s coast Wednesday and make landfall overnight.

The storm is “nearing the mathematical limit” of what the Earth’s atmosphere can produce over the ocean, one meteorologist said Monday night.

John Morales, a veteran meteorologist in south Florida, became emotional on air from the “horrific” forecast and how quickly Hurricane Milton was gaining strength.

The Orioles’ spring training complex in Sarasota, Florida, which underwent a $31.2 million renovation during 2010-2011, is projected to be near the center of the storm. In the offseason, the complex hosts instructional camps and is home to player development staff members and other personnel.

The complex is not in an evacuation zone, but the team said the facility would be closed beginning Monday at 2 p.m.

“We are thinking about our neighbors and first responders during this challenging time for our community,” the Orioles said in a statement.

Will Hurricane Milton head toward Maryland?

The forecast path of the storm does not take it farther north into the United States, though storm conditions may be noticeable in nearby states.

Hurricane Milton, which is already leading parts of Florida to declare states of emergency, comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which devastated western North Carolina and other parts of Appalachia. Gov. Wes Moore deployed the Maryland National Guard to North Carolina to help with rescue and other efforts.

Current forecasts show Maryland going entirely unscathed by the conditions expected in Florida this week. There is no rain in the forecast for Baltimore from today through Saturday.

Tuesday afternoon is currently projected to see a high of 72 degrees. The forecast high for the next few days is 79 degrees on Saturday. The lowest high temperature in Baltimore this week is forecast to be 67 degrees, on Thursday. The lowest low is forecast to be 46 degrees Thursday night.

There is a chance of showers in Baltimore on Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service.

This week’s forecast is closely aligned with the daily normals for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Baltimore Banner reporter Danielle Allentuck contributed to this article.