Florida residents are already evacuating and filling sandbags days ahead of anticipated flooding from Tropical Storm Helene. Helene formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea, is expected to cross the Gulf of Mexico and could strengthen into a major hurricane.

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to unleash mudslides and flooding in Cuba before reaching major hurricane strength on Thursday as it hits Florida with life-threatening ocean surge, the U.S. National Weather Service said.

The hurricane center's forecast for Helene's rapid transition from unnamed storm to Cat 3 hurricane may be the fastest ever.

Helene is forecast to rapidly intensify into a massive Category 3 hurricane, bringing “potentially catastrophic” wind and storm surge to the Big Bend.

Tropical Storm Helene formed Tuesday and is expected to make landfall as a hurricane Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane, tropical storm watches are in effect for parts of Florida as Tropical Storm Helene could hit state as major Categoy 3 hurricane.

Florida's Gulf Coast is bracing for the potential of a significant hurricane landfall later this week, as a possible tropical storm that could ultimately become Hurricane Helene is organizing in the Caribbean.