A Hurricane Might Hit Florida Later This Week. Here’s What to Expect 

A hurricane could make landfall in Florida later this week, the National Hurricane Center has warned. On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center forecasts upgraded the weather system, previously called “Tropical Cyclone Nine,” to “Tropical Storm Helene.” It is expected to form into a hurricane, dubbed “Hurricane Helene,” over the course of the week.

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the storm was about 150 miles west of Grand Cayman, an island in the Cayman Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. 

Tropical storm conditions, and potentially hurricane conditions, are anticipated over parts of western Cuba and the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday night. The storm will be near hurricane strength when it reaches the far northwestern Caribbean Sea early Wednesday, the NHC predicts. 

The storm is then expected to intensify and become a major hurricane, potentially a category 3, by Thursday, when it reaches the northeastern Gulf Coast. As of Tuesday morning, forecasts predicted that the hurricane will make landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida late Thursday. Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches have been issued for portions of Mexico and Cuba.

The National Hurricane Center said Monday that there is “an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds” along portions of the northern and northeastern Gulf Coast—which includes the Florida Panhandle and portions of Florida’s west coast.

Isolated flash and urban flooding are possible in the Southeast, Southern Appalachians, and the Tennessee Valley Wednesday through Friday.

As of Monday morning, the National Weather Service said that it was too soon to specify the exact location of the storm and magnitude of impact, but urged residents in its path to monitor forecasts and ensure they have a hurricane plan in place. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 41 out of 67 counties in Florida on Monday ahead of the expected weather. On Tuesday, the state of emergency was expanded to include 61 counties.

DeSantis urged residents to take the time to adequately prepare before the storm makes landfall. “We are going to see significant impact no matter what happens,” said DeSantis. 

The storm could become the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this year, as extreme weather events are expected to become more common due to warming temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. The last time four or more hurricanes landed in the U.S. during hurricane season was in 2020, the most active hurricane season on record, according to Climate.gov.