Tropical Storm Helene Strengthens, Hurricane Warnings Affected Parts of Florida, Mexico

Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly gaining strength in the Caribbean Sea. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane on Wednesday as it moves north along the Mexican coast toward the United States. That has prompted evacuations, school closures and a state of emergency in Florida and Georgia.

The storm is forecast to be “near hurricane-force” as it passes near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula early Wednesday morning, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, and “will intensify and grow in size” as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rainfall was forecast for the southeastern United States starting Wednesday, with “life-threatening storm surge” along the entire west coast of Florida, the center said.

Helene is expected to become a major hurricane — a Category 3 or higher — on Thursday, the day it is expected to make landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast, according to the hurricane center. The center issued hurricane warnings for parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and the northwestern coast of Florida, where large storm surges of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) were expected.

Mexico is still reeling from Hurricane John, which struck its other coast. John slammed into the southern Pacific coast on Monday night, killing two people, ripping tin roofs off homes, triggering mudslides and toppling dozens of trees, officials said Tuesday.

On Monday, John strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane within hours and made landfall about 80 miles (128 kilometers) east of the resort town of Acapulco, near the town of Punta Maldonado. It had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph) before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved inland.

Helene, which formed in the Caribbean on Tuesday, is likely to move over deep, warm waters, which will increase its intensity. People in areas under hurricane warnings and watches should be prepared for power outages and should have enough food and water for at least three days, forecasters warned.

Hurricane warnings are also in effect for parts of western Cuba and Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, the National Hurricane Center said.

“This will be a very large system that will impact all of Florida,” said Larry Kelly, a hurricane specialist at the center.

Several counties on Florida’s west and northwest coasts have issued evacuation orders. Many school districts, including in Tampa and the state capital of Tallahassee, plan to close schools or reduce hours starting Wednesday.

Some residents began filling sandbags, expecting flooding, and began leaving coastal areas.

President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida and sent Federal Emergency Management Agency teams to Florida and Alabama to support local first responders. Federal authorities were deploying generators, food and water, as well as search and rescue and power restoration teams, the White House said.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also declared a state of emergency for most of the state’s counties, while Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in his state as well.

The storm is expected to be unusually large and fast-moving, meaning storm surge, wind and rain will likely extend far from the center of the storm, the hurricane center said. States as far inland as Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana could see some rain.

Heavy rain and large waves battered the Cayman Islands on Tuesday. Authorities closed schools, airports and government offices as high winds knocked out power in parts of Grand Cayman, while heavy rain and 10-foot (3-meter) waves caused flooding. Authorities urged people to stay indoors as the storm subsided later Tuesday and said crews would disperse to assess the damage.

Many Cuban residents are also worried about the storm, whose tentacles are likely to reach the capital, Havana, which is grappling with a severe water shortage, piles of uncollected garbage and ongoing power outages.

Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. Since 2000, eight major hurricanes have made landfall in Florida, according to Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record-high ocean temperatures. It is predicting 17 to 25 named storms before the season ends on Nov. 30, with four to seven major hurricanes that could be Category 3 or higher.