Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become one of the most aggressive in hurricane history as the National Weather Service expects mudslides and flooding in Cuba before it reaches major hurricane strength in Florida.
Helene was churning about 180 miles south of the western tip of Cuba as it barreled northwest, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory on Tuesday.
Forecasters predict Helene will strengthen quickly over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico to become a major hurricane, packing winds as high as 115 mph, with the storm expected to hit Florida on Thursday evening.
In the U.S., state and national authorities warned of damaging winds and surging walls of seawater driven inland, inundating low-lying coastal areas of Floridas panhandle and west coast as early as Wednesday.
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in most Florida counties.
Julie Eichner, of Tarpon Springs, tackles a sandbag while preparing her home for potential flooding on Tuesday as officials mull school closures and evacuation orders as the system expected to become Hurricane Helene draws closer
People fill sandbags at Fossil Park in north St. Petersburg on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 ahead of what is expected to be Hurricane Helene. Tropical Storm Helene, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA - 24 Sep 2024
Weahter map shows trajectory of Storm Helene
People in some regions already faced mandatory evacuation orders on Tuesday ahead of expected coastal flooding.
People in the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend region and parts of the central and eastern Gulf coast have been told to prepare for the storm by Wednesday night, as it could bring life-threatening storm surges and destructive winds.
White House spokesperson Jeremy Edwards said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the storm and was in touch with local officials.
Federal resources and personnel are prepositioned, including generators, food, and water, along with search and rescue and power restoration teams, Edwards said.
However, the hurricanes exact track and timing could shift, the hurricane center said.
Showers and thunderstorms have already been raging over the Caribbean and surrounding areas in Central America, with localized flash flooding and mudslides expected.
Sheets of rain began lashing western Cuba on Tuesday morning, prompting authorities to shut down schools, close ports and recall fishing boats.
Farmers scrambled to secure thousands of tonnes of prized tobacco, the coveted raw material for fine Cuban cigars, ahead of the expected high winds.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite image taken at 6:10pm ET shows Tropical Storm Helene off the Gulf Coast of Florida near Mexico and Cuba on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024
A woman walks past fallen trees as a result of Hurricane John in San Marcos, Guerrero State, Mexico, on September 24, 2024
A hotel worker removes a sun bed as Tropical Storm Helene approaches the Yucatan Peninsula, in Cancun, Mexico September 24, 2024
Men pull a boat from the water as Tropical Storm Helene approaches the Yucatan Peninsula, in Cancun, Mexico
Large clouds move over Havana due to the proximity of the tropical storm Helene
People walk on a flooded road as Tropical Storm Helene approaches Cuba, in Guanimar, Cuba
A hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings were in effect across the western third of Cuba, while the capital Havana was expected to see heavy rain and more moderate winds.
Residents across much of Cuba - already saddled by economic crisis and facing severe shortages of fuel, food and medicine - battened down homes and farms ahead of the storm.
The storms path also passes over the northeastern tip of Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula. In Cancun, fishermen pulled boats onto the sand and hotel workers removed sun beds under a darkening sky.
Climate scientists say annual hurricanes in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico region have grown more frequent and severe due to global warming.
The storm is expected to move north later in the week over parts of Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, bringing isolated flash and urban flooding, the weather service said.
A man rides a motorcycle past to damages on a street as a result of Hurricane John in San Marcos, Guerrero State, Mexico
Damages on a street as a result of Hurricane John are seen in San Marcos, Guerrero State, Mexico
A group of women walk past to damages on a street as a result of Hurricane John in San Marcos, Guerrero State, Mexico
Damaged boats as a result of Hurricane John are seen in San Marcos, Guerrero State, Mexico
It comes as Category 3 Hurricane John made landfall Monday night near the town of Punta Maldonado in Mexico with winds of 120mph.
It weakened to a tropical depression Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 35mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
John blew tin roofs off houses, triggered mudslides and toppled scores of trees.
Two people died when the storm sent a mudslide crashing into their house on the remote mountain of Tlacoachistlahuaca.
A third death occurred in Malinaltepec when a landslide hit the home of a 70-year-old woman, according to Guerrero state officials.