Tropical Storm Helene: A Growing Hurricane Threat to Florida and the Gulf Coast

Key Points:

1. Formation: Tropical Storm Helene is likely to form soon in the western Caribbean Sea.
2. Hurricane Potential: Expected to intensify into a hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday.
3. Forecast: Most models predict a hurricane making landfall in Florida or the northern Gulf Coast by Thursday.
4. Impact:Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall, with the potential to affect areas further inland across the South by Friday.

Detailed Forecast

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to develop in the western Caribbean Sea and rapidly intensify into a major hurricane before making landfall along Florida or the northern Gulf Coast later this week.

Residents from Louisiana to Florida along the U.S. Gulf Coast should remain vigilant, follow forecast updates closely, and ensure they have hurricane preparedness plans in place.

Watches and Warnings:

- Lower Florida Keys: Tropical storm watch in effect, including Key West and Big Pine      Key.

- Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: Hurricane watch and tropical storm warning from west of Cancún to Tulum, including Cozumel.

- Western Cuba: Hurricane watch and tropical storm warning, particularly west of Havana.

- Grand Cayman: Tropical storm warning in effect.

These warnings suggest tropical storm conditions are expected, with the possibility of hurricane-strength conditions, within the next 36 to 48 hours in the affected areas.

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