TAMPA, Florida. – Hurricane Helene formed late Wednesday morning and is expected to rapidly strengthen before making landfall in the Big Bend region on Thursday.

Even though it looks like the Bay Area will be spared a direct hit, we will still be impacted by heavy rain, wind, and storm surge.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the area from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach and a hurricane watch is in effect for the area from Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay.

How strong will Helene become?

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, Hurricane Helene had sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving north-northwest at 10 mph.

READ: Hurricane Helene: County Guide

By 8 p.m. Wednesday, Helene is expected to be a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 miles per hour.

The storm is likely to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph by 8 a.m. Thursday as it passes along Florida's west coast.

When will Helene reach land?

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area around 8 p.m. Thursday as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (200 kph), just 5 miles short of a Category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center noted that Helene's winds may be stronger by the time it makes landfall.

READ: Hurricane Helene leads to evacuations in the Bay Area

By 8 a.m. Friday, Helene's wind speed should weaken to about 60 mph as it passes over Georgia. As it passes over inland Georgia, Helene will quickly weaken, and by 8 a.m. Saturday, its wind speed will be about 25 mph.

When will Hurricane Helene hit the Bay Area?

Tropical storm force winds will extend 250 miles northeast and southeast of the storm. Hurricane force winds will extend 40 miles from the storm on the northeast and southeast sides.

FOX 13 meteorologist Jim Weber says the Bay Area could feel tropical storm-force winds from Hurricane Helene starting early Thursday morning.

READ: Hurricane Helene: The following is closed in the Bay Area

He adds that Helene's winds will be felt throughout the Bay Area by midday Thursday, noting that the hurricane-force winds will remain offshore.

The Bay Area could see wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph Thursday morning. Weber says some of those gusts could reach hurricane force Thursday afternoon, especially along the coast. Inland, wind gusts could reach 50 to 60 mph.

A tropical storm warning applies to:

• Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas
• From Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay
• West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa County-Walton County border
• Flamingo north to the South Santee River
• Lake Okeechobee
• Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche, Mexico
• Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and the Island of Youth

A tropical storm warning applies to:

• North of the South Santee River to Little River Inlet

When Helene passes the Bay Area on Thursday afternoon, its winds will shift to the south and southwest, causing water to build up along the coast and create a storm surge.

In Pinellas County and Tampa Bay, storm surges of 1.5 to 2.5 meters could occur, and in Sarasota and Manatee counties, storm surges of 1.2 to 2.1 meters could occur.

Pasco and Hernando counties could experience a storm surge of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters), while Citrus County could experience a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet (3.5 to 4.5 meters) along the coast and cause flooding.

A storm surge warning applies to:

• Indian Pass south to Flamingo
• Tampa Bay
• Charlotte Harbor

A storm surge warning applies to:

• West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach

What to expect in the individual districts on Thursday and Friday

Hillsborough and Pinellas counties

• 50-70 MPH wind gusts
• 5-8 foot storm surge
• Tornadoes
• 4-8 inches of rainfall

Citrus and Hernando County

• 55-75 mph wind gusts
• 6 – 15 foot storm surge
• 5 – 10 inches of rainfall

Polk and Highland County

• 35-50 MPH wind gusts
• 2 – 4 inches of rainfall
• Isolated tornadoes

Sarasota and Manatee counties

• 45 – 60 MPH wind gusts
• 4 -7 foot storm surge
• 4 – 8 inches of rainfall

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