US likely to be hit by powerful Hurricane Helene, according to latest map projections.

The National Hurricane Center officially named Tropical Storm Helene in their Tuesday morning advisory. This storm, currently located in the Caribbean, is expected to strengthen rapidly and potentially reach Category 3 hurricane status. The projected path appears to be headed directly towards Florida and the US, raising concerns for a major impact. In fact, Helene is shaping up to be the strongest storm to hit America in over a year.

According to experts, Helene formed early Tuesday morning in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. As it moves towards the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it is projected to intensify even further. In fact, there is a possibility that Helene could reach Category 3 status within just 48 hours. A satellite image taken on Tuesday morning clearly shows the storm's formation in the Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Center has released a probable path map that predicts Helene will make landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday evening between 8pm and 10pm. With maximum winds reaching 115mph, this storm could bring severe damage and danger to the affected areas. In addition, the Big Bend area of Florida is expected to experience a storm surge of ten to 15 feet, while Tampa Bay could see four to eight feet. As a result, a hurricane watch has been activated in Florida from Tallahassee to Tampa. In addition, Mexico has also issued a hurricane warning for the area stretching from Tulum to Cabo Catoche.

Governor Ron DeSantis has taken action in preparation for the potential devastation. In a statement on Tuesday morning, he announced that nearly 18,000 lineman have been staged in the state, with more on the way. In addition, the state has search and rescue teams and roadway clearing crews ready to assist. A wind speed probabilities map shows the potential impact of Tropical Storm Helene, with Florida's Gulf Coast, Georgia, Alabama, and parts of Mexico in its path.

Governor DeSantis has urged residents to stay informed and follow the recommendations and alerts from local and state emergency officials. He advised everyone to take necessary preparations now and to heed evacuation directives, if issued. As a result, evacuations have already begun in certain parts of Florida's coast, with mandatory orders in place for Charlotte, Franklin, Gulf, Hernando, Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.

As the storm approaches, storm clouds have been spotted in Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico. AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva has warned that everyone along the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region should be prepared for the potential impacts of this hurricane. The last time a Category 3 hurricane made landfall in the US was Idalia in late August 2023. It caused record-breaking storm surge in Tampa after hitting the Big Bend region. If Helene does indeed make landfall as a hurricane, it would be the fourth to strike the US mainland this season.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]