Tropical Storm Helene expected to become a major hurricane ahead of Florida landfall

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Helene is intensifying and is forecast to become a large, major hurricane before striking Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday with life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and heavy rain.

The impacts from Helene won’t stop at the coast. Strong winds, flooding rain and some tornadoes will also spread into parts of the Southeast late this week.

Where is it now?

Helene is centered 60 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and is tracking northwestward. Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph. The storm’s rainfall is drenching parts of Mexico’s Yucatan and western Cuba. A few far-reaching bands of rain have spread as far north as South Florida at times.

Watches and warnings in effect

A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida’s Big Bend into southwest Georgia, including Tallahassee. Storm surge warnings extend from Indian Pass southward to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Various tropical storm warnings and watches and hurricane watches cover most other parts of Florida northward into south Georgia and southern South Carolina, as shown in the map below.