Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly intensifying in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to develop into a hurricane by Wednesday as it tracks northward along Mexico's coast towards the United States. This has prompted evacuations, school closures, and emergency declarations in Florida and Georgia.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued warnings for parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Florida's northwestern coastline, where storm surges of up to 15 feet are anticipated. Helene is projected to reach major hurricane status, potentially a Category 3 or higher, by Thursday when it is forecasted to make landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast.
