Tallahassee, Florida – Hurricane, storm surge, and tropical storm alerts have been issued for parts of Florida as Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to strengthen into a large, dangerous hurricane before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Helene, the eighth storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, is expected to become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday. A hurricane landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday night is highly likely, bringing with it life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rain. The storm is anticipated to produce locally strong winds and heavy rain that will extend well inland in parts of the South into Friday.

Currently, Helene is centered less than 200 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, with most of its thunderstorms located east of the center. However, more thunderstorms are starting to wrap in closer to the center, indicating increased organization of the storm.

Tropical alerts have been issued for portions of the Yucatan Peninsula, western Cuba, and Florida, with storm surge alerts also in effect for much of Florida’s Gulf Coast. Residents near and along the Florida Gulf Coast are advised to closely monitor the forecast, have their hurricane plans ready, and follow any advice from local emergency managers.

The timeline for Helene’s path includes it gradually approaching Cancún, Cozumel, and western Cuba on Tuesday, potentially making landfall as a hurricane in the southern Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday. The storm is expected to reach its peak intensity in the eastern Gulf on Thursday, with a landfall predicted along the Gulf Coast of Florida later that day.

Helene is forecast to reach major hurricane intensity in the Gulf due to favorable conditions such as heat content in the ocean. However, the impact of wind shear on the storm’s intensity is still uncertain and will be a crucial factor to monitor as Helene progresses.

As the storm approaches, residents should prepare for potential storm surge, high winds, and heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding. With the storm’s large size and fast movement, its impacts are expected to be significant and cover a wide area, extending well inland as it moves through the Southeast.

In conclusion, Helene poses a serious threat to Florida and the Southeast U.S. with the potential for damaging winds, flooding, and storm surge. Residents are urged to stay informed, have their emergency plans in place, and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this dangerous weather event.