Meteorologists have their eyes set on the Caribbean, as a tropical disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm — and then potentially Hurricane Helene — which could make landfall in Florida later this week.
The National Hurricane Center has identified the disturbance as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine as of Monday, September 23. While the storm has not officially been formed, it’s on track to move into the Gulf and strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall along Florida’s panhandle.
How will Hurricane Helene impact Florida?
As of Monday, Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is swirling in the Caribbean a few hundred miles from Grand Cayman and the western portion of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. Forecasters expect it to gain strength as it head towards the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. On Thursday, it is likely to intensify into a powerful Category 2 (almost Category 3) storm with 110 mph winds as it makes landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area.
This will bring Florida’s Gulf Coast to be susceptible to life-threatening storm surge, damaging wings and heavy rainfall. Ahead of the storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 41 of the state’s 67 counties. This does not include Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, but it does include Charlotte, Collier and Lee.
Tropical storm warnings and watches have also been issued for portions of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico as the storm strengthens. A tropical storm watch was also raised Monday afternoon for the Lower Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas.
You can check for updates to the latest forecast at hurricanes.gov.