Major Hurricane Expected to Come Onshore Along Florida Gulf Coast

You only have one more day to prepare for a likely hurricane landfall if you live anywhere along the Florida Panhandle, the Big Bend region, or the central and eastern portions of the Gulf Coast. Here is the latest on what is soon to become Hurricane Helene.

Latest on Tropical Storm Helene

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Monday for several counties in the Sunshine State as a major hurricane churns closer to the Gulf of Mexico.

As of the late Tuesday morning update by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Helene is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as it gathers intensity on its way to a forecast landfall somewhere along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Helene is coming together quickly while also moving at a fast clip. Helene is headed to the northwest at a speed 12 mph. Potential impacts include life-threatening storm surge, torrential rainfall, flash flooding, and damaging winds.

A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the barrier islands of Franklin County, Florida, located in the Big Bend region of the state's panhandle. A hurricane watch has been issued in the zone from Englewood to Indian Pass, Florida. This includes the large metropolitan area of Tampa. Additionally, a tropical storm watch is in effect for the majority of the Florida Gulf Coast, all the way down to the Keys.

Forecasters have been watching this cluster of rain showers and thunderstorms for days after a Central American gyre showed signs of strengthening. Prior to making a direct strike in the U.S., Helene is forecast to impact parts of the western Caribbean, including Cuba, the southeastern corner of Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. Mudslides will be a key concern over the mountainous terrain of this region.