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Live updates: Tropical Storm Helene nears hurricane strength in Caribbean on trek to Florida

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Published  September 25, 2024 9:25am EDT
Hurricanes
FOX 35 Orlando

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ORLANDO, Fla. - LIVE UPDATES: Helene strengthened to become a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday with sustained winds of 80 mph. It's forecast to strengthen further into a major hurricane before making landfall Thursday in Florida's Big Bend region. Click here for live updates. This story will not be updated.

Original story

Tropical Storm Helene is nearing hurricane strength just offshore of the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula toward the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to undergo additional strengthening and is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday. The storm will rapidly intensify over the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) before making landfall in Florida's Big Bend region, the NHC said. 

It would mark the third hurricane in the last two years to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend region (Hurricane Ian in 2022, Hurricane Idalia in 2023) if it stays on its forecast track.

"As expected, the intensity continues to increase," said FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Noah Bergren. "This will be a destructive storm with a catastrophic surge in the Big Bend – much worse than Idalia and a very fast-moving hurricane."

Tropical storm, hurricane, and storm surge watches and warnings have been issued for several areas in Florida.

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. 

Where is Tropical Storm Helene right now?

Tropical Storm Helene was 60 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and 100 miles west-southwest of the western tip of Cuba. It's traveling northwest at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds that have increased from 65 to 70 mph. 

"This motion should continue through this morning, followed by a general northward motion beginning later today and continuing through Friday.  On the forecast track, the center of Helene will pass near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula this morning, move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico on later today and Thursday, and reach the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday," the NHC said.

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

According to the NHC, Helene is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane Thursday night in Florida's Big Bend region.

Central Florida should start to feel impacts from Helene's outer bands on Wednesday, which will gradually get worse as the storm inches closer to Florida over several hours.

How will future Hurricane Helene impact Central Florida?

Regardless of where Helene makes landfall, its impact will be felt across the state.

The worst weather will be felt on Thursday evening, where much of Central Florida will experience tropical storm-forced winds, strong wind gusts, and heavy rain, up to 4" possible in some spots. There will also be the chance for a tornado or two to develop.

Here's a more detailed look at county-by-county forecasts:

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Tropical Storm Helene Watches and Warnings

When is the next tropical storm update? 

A complete advisory from the NHC, which will feature a new forecast track, will be released at 11 a.m.

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