Tropical Storm Helene Forecasters said a storm that formed in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday could grow into a major hurricane as it moves north toward the U.S. Heavy rain and big waves are already hitting the Cayman Islands, and some Florida residents have already begun evacuating their homes or filling sandbags ahead of expected flooding.
The US National Hurricane Center said hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of Cuba, Mexico and a portion of the Florida coastline, including Tampa Bay. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for parts of the Florida Keys.
The storm was 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of the western tip of Cuba, packing sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). It was expected to strengthen into Hurricane Helene as it approaches the Gulf Coast on Wednesday and could become a major hurricane on Thursday.
In the US, federal authorities are deploying generators, food and water, as well as search-and-rescue and power restoration teams, as President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday increased the number of counties included in the high-risk area from 41 to 61, ahead of the storm's arrival on the state's Gulf Coast late Thursday.
The tropical storm forced NASA and SpaceX to postpone Thursday's astronaut launch until at least Saturday. Florida A&M University postponed its upcoming college football game against Alabama A&M.
Hurricane Center expert Larry Kelly warned that because the storm is so large, it's important not to focus only on where it's headed, as about 10 Florida counties have urged or ordered evacuations.
“This will be a very large system that will impact all of Florida,” he said. “Stay updated with the latest forecast and listen to your local officials.”
Hal Summers, who worked at a restaurant in Mexico Beach, Florida, needed no reminders, as he barely escaped. Hurricane Michael DeSantis has said Helene is reminiscent of a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught residents by surprise before carving a destructive path across the western Florida Panhandle.
When the storm hit, Summers ran forward, carrying her cat in her arms as the water rose rapidly at her parents' home. Their home and hers were destroyed.
“It was such a traumatic experience that I didn't need to be there,” he said Tuesday, adding he was visiting a friend in a town called Mariana.
Florida's chief financial officer said Tuesday that if Tropical Storm Helene follows a similar path to the two previous hurricanes that struck Florida last year, the state will recover faster and won't suffer as great an economic loss.
That's because Hurricane Idalia, which hit Florida in August 2023, and Hurricane Debby last August knocked down vulnerable structures and trees, which could have generated debris, said Jimmy Patronis, Florida's chief financial officer.
Helene is expected to move over deeper, warmer waters, which will increase its intensity. Meteorologists have warned that people in watch and warning areas should be prepared for power outages and keep enough food and water for at least three days.
Helene, the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, could intensify into a major Category 3 hurricane with winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph) before it reaches the northeastern Gulf Coast. Eight major hurricanes have struck Florida since 2000, according to Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.
Given the estimated large size, storm surge, Wind and rain are expected to extend far from the storm's center, especially in the eastern part. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency. And inland states such as Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana could receive rain due to the storm.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Florida's Dry Tortugas, the Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge, Mexico's Rio Lagartos to Tulum, and Cuba's Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and Isle of Youth provinces. The tropical storm warning has been lifted for Grand Cayman. Officials urged people to stay indoors as the storm moves away and said crews would soon be heading out to assess damage.
Storm surge warnings have been issued for Florida Keys from Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Indian Pass south to Flamingo. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the central Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge; south of Englewood to Flamingo; and west of Indian Pass to the Walton Bay County line.
It was sunny Tuesday in Tarpon Springs, Florida, but residents had already filled sandbags to prepare for potential flooding.
Authorities in the Cayman Islands closed schools, airports and government offices as strong winds knocked out power to some areas of Grand Cayman, while heavy rain and waves up to 10 feet (3 meters) high caused flooding.
Many in Cuba are worried about the storm, which is expected to reach the capital, Havana, which is struggling with severe water shortages, garbage piles and flooding. Frequent power cuts.
Helene is expected to pass between Cuba and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday morning and then move north across the Gulf of Mexico.
Up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rain is expected in western Cuba and the Cayman Islands, with isolated locations seeing totals of up to 12 inches (30 cm). Up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rain is expected in eastern Yucatan, with isolated locations seeing totals of over 8 inches (20 cm).
Heavy rain is also forecast for the southeastern US through Wednesday, bringing the risk of flash floods and swollen rivers, according to the National Hurricane Center. Up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain is forecast across the region, with isolated locations seeing as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters).
In Florida, storm surges of up to 15 feet (5 meters) are forecast from the Ochlockonee River to Chassahowitzka, and up to 10 feet (3 meters) from Chassahowitzka to the Anclote River and from Indian Pass to the Ochlockonee River.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted this year's Atlantic hurricane season to be above average. Causes of record-warm sea temperaturesIt forecast 17 to 25 named storms, of which four to seven would be major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.
In the Pacific Ocean, Pre-Hurricane John Two people were killed as a storm struck Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Tuesday, blowing away tin roofs from homes, triggering landslides and uprooting many trees, officials said.
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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Hollingsworth from Mission, Kansas. Associated Press journalists Andrea Rodriguez in Havana, Marcia Dunn in Cape Canaveral and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.