Helene Expected To Become Hurricane Wednesday

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Helene could be a Category 3 hurricane before it makes landfall sometime Thursday night in Florida. Helene is expected to intensify over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and become a hurricane tomorrow. It's then expected to approach the Big Bend area between Gainesville and Tallahassee, which is now under a hurricane warning. Dozens of Florida counties are already under a state of emergency. Airlines are issuing travel alerts and allowing impacted passengers to change their flights free of charge.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday. The storm is forecast to rapidly strengthen over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and become a major hurricane on Thursday.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Indian Pass southward to Flamingo

* Tampa Bay

* Charlotte Harbor

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida

* Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Cuban province of Pinar del Rio

* Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Dry Tortugas

* Lower and Middle Florida Keys west of the Channel 5 Bridge

* Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

* West of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County Line

* Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche, Mexico

* Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Lake Okeechobee

* Palm Beach/Martin County Line northward to the Savannah River


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