Beware of hurricane on Florida's Gulf Coast as the storm could rapidly intensify

Top line

A storm system in the Caribbean Sea was officially declared Tropical Storm Helene late Tuesday morning and is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by the time it reaches Florida's Gulf Coast on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center warned.

This graphic shows an approximate representation of the coastal areas for which a hurricane warning applies (red), … (+) Hurricane Warning (pink), Tropical Storm Warning (blue) and Tropical Storm Warning (yellow).

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Key data

The National Hurricane Center announced that a storm it was monitoring, previously designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, had strengthened into a tropical storm late Tuesday morning.

The storm, located about 175 miles south of the western tip of Cuba, has triggered a hurricane warning for the Florida coast from Indian Pass to Englewood, including Tampa Bay.

A hurricane warning is also in effect for parts of Mexico and Cuba; a tropical storm warning is in effect for the lower Florida Keys and parts of Mexico and Cuba; and a tropical storm warning has been issued for the central Florida Keys and other parts of the state.

A storm surge warning was also issued for the Indian Pass area in the Florida Panhandle south to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

The storm reached maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h) with stronger gusts at 2 p.m. Tuesday, and meteorologists predict it will reach near hurricane force when it reaches the northwestern Caribbean coast early Wednesday morning.

The storm is expected to develop into a major hurricane by the time it reaches the USA on Thursday. It is expected to have wind speeds of around 185 km/h and rainfall amounts of between 10 and 20 centimetres, with rainfall reaching up to 30 centimetres in isolated areas. “Significant flash flooding and urban flooding will likely occur in some areas.”

Airlines including United Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and Frontier have issued travel advisories due to the storm and are allowing potentially affected passengers to rebook their plans free of charge.

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Large number

185 km/h. That is how strong the storm's winds are forecast to be starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, which would classify the storm as a Category 3 hurricane.

Key quote

“The risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds is increasing along the Florida Panhandle and western Florida Gulf Coast,” the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday. “Residents should make sure they have a hurricane plan in place and follow the advice of local authorities.”

Important background

Helene is the eighth named tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes weeks after Francine made landfall in Louisiana on Sept. 11 as a Category 2. The only tropical storm that formed between the two, named Gordon, lost strength in the Atlantic on Friday. Meteorologists predicted this year the strongest storm season (from June 1 to Nov. 30) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever forecast — as many as 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes — but the season so far has not been as active as predicted.

More information

ForbesHurricane Helene: Airlines issue travel warnings as storm heads toward FloridaFrom Suzanne Rowan Kelleher
ForbesGovernment meteorologists issue the gloomiest hurricane season forecast in history – here's whyFrom Brian BushardForbesHurricane Francine reaches Louisiana as Category 2From Mary Whitfill Roeloffs