Storm tracker: Tropical Storm Helene forms, expected to make landfall as hurricane Thursday
Hurricane and storm surge watches have been issued for portions of the Florida Gulf Coast Tuesday as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Helene, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of the 11 a.m. ET advisory from the hurricane center, the storm was located about 180 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The system is moving northwest at about 12 mph, and this motion is expected to continue through early Wednesday, according to the NHC, followed by a north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed on Wednesday and Thursday.
"The center of Helene will move across the far northwestern Caribbean Sea through tonight, then move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, potentially reaching the Gulf Coast of Florida late Thursday," the NHC said in its latest advisory.
The hurricane center also said additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday. Thereafter, the storm is expected to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming a major hurricane on Thursday.
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Watches and warnings in effect for Florida
According to the National Hurricane Center, a Storm Surge Watch has been issued from Indian Pass southward to Bonita Beach, Florida, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood northward and westward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Indian Pass to the Walton/Bay County Line and from north of Bonita Beach to south of Englewood, in addition to the Middle Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge, according to the NHC.
A Tropical Storm Warning has also been issued for the Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge and for the Dry Tortugas.
Tropical Storm Helene tracker
Tropical Storm Helene spaghetti models
Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
NHC tracking another system in the Atlantic
The hurricane center also said Tuesday it is continuing to track another tropical wave located near the Cabo Verde Islands.
According to the NHC, shower and thunderstorm activity associated with the wave has become "more concentrated since yesterday," and environmental conditions appear favorable for a gradual development of this system.
A tropical depression is "likely to form in a few days" while the system moves westward to west-northwestward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic, according to the NHC. The system has an 80 percent chance of formation through the next seven days.
This story was updated to add new information.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Helene tracker: See path of storm, spaghetti models