TAMPA, Florida. – Tropical Storm Helene is gaining strength as it heads toward the Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to rapidly strengthen before reaching Florida as a major hurricane.

Helene is expected to strengthen to a Category 3 storm before making landfall in the Big Bend region Thursday night, but FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg warned the storm could be even more powerful.

At 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, Helene was located at 20.7 N, 86.2 W, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and northwest winds of 9 mph.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm will broaden and have far-reaching impacts across the Bay Area and all of Central Florida, despite the storm being outside the NHC’s forecast cone.

According to Osterberg, the record-high water temperatures will provide “limitless fuel” for rapid intensification.

Storm warnings and alerts

A hurricane warning is in effect from Anclote River to Mexico Beach. That includes coastal areas of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco Counties.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for the remainder of the state, except the western Panhandle.

A storm surge warning has been issued from Flamingo to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

A flood warning is in effect through Friday morning for the Bay Area and much of the state, except for east central Florida and the western Panhandle.

READ: Your Guide to the 2024 Hurricane Season

What is the timeline for impacts in the Bay Area?

According to Osterberg, rainy and windy conditions are expected in the region early Thursday morning, with the worst effects felt Thursday afternoon.

According to Osterberg, any shift in the course, even a few miles, will significantly change Helene’s impact on the Bay Area.

“There’s not a lot of room for error. There’s really no room for a storm like this and the magnitude that it is,” Osterberg said.

How big are the possible consequences of Helene?

FOX 13 meteorologists say life-threatening storm surges are expected, potentially reaching 15 feet (4.5 meters) along the coast from Citrus County north to Big Bend.

Wind gusts of over 113 kilometres per hour are possible along the coast on Thursday afternoon. The tropical storm force gusts could extend up to a distance of 400 kilometres from the centre of the storm.

Heavy rainfall is also expected, ranging from 13 to 25 centimetres (5 to 10 inches) on the coast to 5 to 10 centimetres (2 to 4 inches) inland.

Preparations for Helene

Tropical Storm Helene: Province by Province Guide

Evacuation orders have been issued in several Bay Area counties, especially in coastal and low-lying areas.

School closures have been announced in many districts, with some beginning on Wednesday and others on Thursday.

Some government offices will be closed for the next few days.

In some places, sandbags are still available, weather permitting.

Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for nearly all counties in Florida, while a few counties in the Bay Area have declared states of emergency.

Power companies in the Tampa Bay area and other parts of the state have sprung into action to respond to power outages.

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