Meteorologists say the tropical system reaching the Gulf of Mexico this week could hit Florida’s west coast as a major hurricane.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. advisory on Tuesday, a stretch of Florida’s west coast, including parts of the Tampa Bay area, was under a hurricane warning. That means hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.
A major hurricane is considered a Category 3 or higher, with sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour. Federal meteorologists expect the system’s winds to peak at 115 mph, but that could change.
Parts of inland Hillsborough County were under a tropical storm warning.
The region was also part of a long stretch of coastline under a storm surge warning, with Tampa Bay forecasters predicting a storm surge of up to 8 feet.
According to Spectrum Bay News 9, the region could see more than six inches of rain fall as a result of what will become Hurricane Helene.
Meteorologists reported Tuesday morning that the system was still poorly organized and had not yet formed a wall of visibility.
The system was located 150 miles west-southwest of Grand Cayman and was moving northwest at 9 mph with sustained winds near 35 mph. The potential cyclone is expected to move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea Tuesday night and then gain speed over the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday.
A summary of warnings and cautions
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within the next day or 1½ days.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within the next 24 to 36 hours.
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are possible within the warning area. This warning is usually issued two days before the wind strength of a tropical storm.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood north and west to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Indian Pass to the Walton/Bay County border and from north of Bonita Beach to south of Englewood.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Grand Cayman, Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico; Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth.
A storm surge warning is in effect for Indian Pass Florida south to Bonita Beach Florida, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
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