TS Helene Sets Sights on Florida Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Helene is organizing over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea with her sights on Florida's Gulf Coast later this week. Hurricane and storm surge watches are in effect for portions of the Gulf Coast.

Current Position/Movement:

LOCATION...19.4N 84.5W

ABOUT 175 MI...280 KM ESE OF COZUMEL MEXICO

ABOUT 175 MI...280 KM S OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...999 MB...29.50 INCHES

Watches/Warnings in Effect:

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* Indian Pass southward to Flamingo

* Tampa Bay

* Charlotte Harbor

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico

* Cuban province of Pinar del Rio

* Englewood to Indian Pass

* Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Dry Tortugas

* Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge

* Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico

* Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Middle Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge

* Flamingo to south of Englewood

* West of Indian Pass to Walton Bay County line

As of the 2pm advisory, the center of Tropical Storm Helene was located near latitude 19.4 North, longitude 84.5 West. Helene has been wobbling a bit now that a well-defined has just recently formed, but the longer-term motion is toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h). A turn toward the northwest is expected later today. A northward to north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Helene will move across the far northwestern Caribbean Sea to near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico through tonight, and then move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, potentially reaching the Gulf coast of Florida late Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday. Continued strengthening is anticipated after that time, and Helene could become a major hurricane on Thursday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles to the east of the center.