Helene Intensifies : Hurricane Warnings Issued for Florida and Mexico

Tropical Storm Helene was rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and expected to become a hurricane Wednesday while moving north along Mexico’s coast toward the U.S., prompting residents to evacuate, schools to close and officials to declare emergencies in Florida and Georgia.

The National Hurricane Center projects that Helene will make landfall Thursday evening along the Big Bend or Panhandle area of Florida, not the most populated part of the state.

Forecasters say up to 15 feet of storm surge is possible along parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, with lesser amounts further down the coast.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on Tropical Storm Helene, and his administration is in touch with officials from states in the storm’s path, the White House said Tuesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency.