Storm Tracker: Potential Hurricane Could Hit Gulf Coast This Week
A potential hurricane – which could be named Helene – is raging in the Caribbean and is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday.
The system is expected to become Tropical Storm Helene early Tuesday morning.
A satellite map of tropical threats.
ABC News
It will then move toward the Gulf of Mexico and strengthen into a hurricane Wednesday morning.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for Tulum, Mexico, Cancun, Mexico, and Cuba.
Tropical Threat Forecast Trajectory.
ABC News
The storm is expected to continue strengthening to a Category 2 or 3 hurricane before making landfall along the Florida Panhandle or Big Bend region of Florida Thursday night.
Flash floods, high winds and storm surges pose the greatest threats.
Residents in parts of the northeastern Gulf Coast, including the Florida Panhandle and parts of Florida’s west coast (from Panama City to Tampa), should prepare for life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds and flash flooding Thursday.
ABC News
The Tampa, Florida area and the Florida Panhandle region are expected to be hardest hit by the storm.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he has declared a state of emergency in 41 counties.
“Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone and be as prepared as possible for the storm,” he said on social media.
Heavy rain forecasts show heavier precipitation in the Panhandle/North Florida region and inland from Tallahassee to Atlanta and Nashville.
ABC News
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the Florida Keys.
After landfall, heavy rains and flash flooding from Helene could move inland to Tallahassee, Florida, Atlanta and Nashville, Tennessee.
Three to six inches of rain are expected in the Southeast, with isolated totals around 10 inches.
