TAMPA, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center has officially named Tropical Storm Helene, and it's forecast to strengthen over the next few days.
On Tuesday at 2 p.m., the NHC said Helene is about 175 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. It is moving west-northwest at 12 mph.
According to the NHC, the center of Helene will move across the far northwestern Caribbean Sea to near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico through Tuesday night and then move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, potentially reaching the Gulf coast of Florida late Thursday.
Officials said Helene could become a major hurricane by Thursday.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- Indian Pass southward to Flamingo
- Tampa Bay
- Charlotte Harbor
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico
- Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
- Englewood to Indian Pass
- Tampa Bay, including Citrus, Hernando, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Coastal Sarasota Counties
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
Dry Tortugas
Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge
- Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico
- Cuban provinces of Artemisa, and Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Middle Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge
- Flamingo to south of Englewood
- West of Indian Pass to Walton Bay County line
ABC Action News Chief Meteorologist Denis Philips said this "could very well be Idalia Part 2."
HURRICANE RESOURCES
ABC Action News meteorologist Shay Ryan provides an update on Tropical Storm Helene and its impacts on our area.