Live updates: Tropical Storm Helene forms, expected to hit Florida as major hurricane

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Helene, the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, formed over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

It is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane – possibly a major hurricane – in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall somewhere over Florida this week, according to the latest track and projections from the NHC.

Regardless of where it makes landfall, Central Florida and Tampa will likely see impacts from the storm, including tropical storm-force winds, heavy rain, and the chance for a few tornadoes.

Ahead of the storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 61 of the state’s 67 counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.

TROPICAL STORM HELENE: TRACK l TIMELINE l SPAGHETTI MODELS l FLORIDA IMPACTS | WATCHES & WARNINGS

Here’s the latest on Tropical Storm Helene’s anticipated path, cone, timeline, and impact on Florida. 

Tropical Storm Helene is 175 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and 175 miles south of the western tip of Cuba.

It’s traveling WNW at 12 mph with sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm is expected to turn toward the northwest later today.

” On the forecast track, the center of Helene will move across the far northwestern Caribbean Sea to near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico through tonight, and then move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, potentially reaching the Gulf coast of Florida late Thursday,” the NHC said.

Timeline: When is Tropical Storm Helene expected to hit Florida?

The data is not concrete yet, but a hurricane is expected to be off the coast of Florida by Thursday morning.

Where it will make landfall, if it will make landfall over Florida, isn’t entirely certain. As of Tuesday, the track shows the storm possibly making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region. We’ll find out additional details in the hours and days ahead, as the system continues to develop.

According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Helene will undergo additional strengthening and is projected to become a hurricane on Wednesday and could become a major hurricane (Category 3, 4, or 5) on Thursday. 

Tropical Storm Helene spaghetti models: Where is the tropical storm headed?

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to “rapidly intensify” into Hurricane Helene. Some models suggest it could reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher).

If the hurricane hits the western coast of Florida, Central Florida would be on the so-called “dirty” side – or western side – of the storm, which typically suggests more activity, in terms of thunderstorms and tornado potential.

Regardless of where it makes landfall, Central Florida will likely see strong winds, heavy rain, potential ponding or flooding in areas, and increased risk for severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for:

• Portions of Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Lake, Sumter and Polk Counties
• Middle Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge
• Flamingo to south of Englewood
• West of Indian Pass to Walton Bay County line

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for:

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

A Hurricane Watch has been issued for:

• Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico
• Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
• Englewood to Indian Pass
• Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for:

• Dry Tortugas
• Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge
• Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico
• Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth 

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for:

• Middle Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge
• Flamingo to south of Englewood
• West of Indian Pass to Walton Bay County line

More radar maps from FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar

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