A potential hurricane — which would be named Helene — is churning in the Caribbean and is forecast to make landfall along the Florida Panhandle on Thursday.
The system is forecast to become Tropical Storm Helene by early Tuesday morning.
It will then move into the Gulf of Mexico and strengthen to a hurricane on Wednesday morning.
Hurricane watches were issued in Tulum, Mexico; Cancun, Mexico; and Cuba.
A tropical threat satellite map.
ABC News
The storm is forecast to continue to strengthen and could make landfall along the Florida Panhandle on Thursday night as a Category 2 or Category 3 hurricane.
Flash flooding, strong winds and storm surge are the biggest threats.
Tropical threat forecast path.
ABC News
The Tampa Bay, Florida, area and the Florida Panhandle are expected to get the worst of the storm surge.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’s declared a state of emergency in 41 counties.
“Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be as prepared as possible for the storm,” he said on social media.
After landfall, Helene’s heavy rain and flash flooding may move inland to Tallahassee, Florida; Atlanta; and Nashville, Tennessee.
