Topline
A storm system in the Caribbean Sea officially became Tropical Storm Helene late Tuesday morning and is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by the time it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center warned.
This graphic shows an approximate representation of coastal areas under a hurricane warning (red), … [+]
Key Facts
The National Hurricane Center announced a storm it is watching, previously called Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, had become a tropical storm late Tuesday morning.
The storm—located about 175 south of the western tip of Cuba—has prompted a hurricane watch for the Florida coastline from Indian Pass to Englewood, and includes Tampa Bay.
Parts of Mexico and Cuba are also under a hurricane watch; a tropical storm warning in the lower Florida Keys, parts of Mexico and Cuba; and a tropical storm watch is in effect for the middle Florida Keys and other parts of the state.
A storm surge watch is also in effect for the Indian Pass area of the Florida panhandle southward to Flamingo, and includes Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of 2 p.m. Tuesday with higher gusts and forecasters predict it will be near hurricane strength when it reaches the far northwestern Caribbean Sea early Wednesday.
The system is expected to be a major hurricane by the time it reaches the U.S. on Thursday, with winds of around 115 mph and rainfall between 4 and 8 inches expected, with isolated totals up to a foot, which “will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding.”
Airlines have issued travel alerts for the storm and are letting potentially impacted passengers change their plans without fees, including United Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and Frontier.
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Big Number
115 mph. That’s how strong the storm’s winds are forecast to be as of 5 p.m. Thursday, which would classify the storm as a Category 3 hurricane.
Crucial Quote
“The potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Florida west gulf coast is increasing,” the National Hurricane Center noted Tuesday. “Residents should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place, and also follow advice given by local officials.”
Key Background
Helene is the eighth named tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes weeks after Francine made landfall as a Category 2 in Louisiana on Sept. 11. The only tropical storm to form in between the two, named Gordon, lost its strength in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday. Forecasters this year predicted the busiest storm season (from June 1 to Nov. 30) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever forecasted—up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes—but the season hasn’t been as active as predicted so far.
