Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to become a hurricane while moving north along Mexico’s coast toward the U.S. The storm has prompted residents to evacuate,

The storm could come ashore as a dangerous Category 3 or 4 hurricane with a surge over 10 feet, winds over 110 mph and flooding rain.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said Florida is preparing for a direct hit from a major hurricane that could intensify quickly before it makes landfall in the Panhandle later this week. The National Hurricane Center predicted a tropical storm currently in the Gulf of Mexico will become Hurricane Helene as it moves north toward Florida by Thursday.

Tropical Storm Helene promised to become a hurricane on Wednesday as it rapidly intensified in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, threatening to bring life-threatening storm surge to Florida within the next two days.