Hurricane warning in place in Panhandle as Tropical Storm Helene remains on track for Thursday landfall

Tripical Cyclone 9. NOAA Image via AP.

Tropical Storm Helene is moving into the Gulf of Mexico at a rapid clip. The system remains on course to make landfall in the Panhandle as a hurricane on Thursday evening.

The National Hurricane Center in a 5 p.m. advisory now has storm surge warnings in place from Flamingo north to Indian Pass. Hurricane warnings are now in place from Anclote River to Mexico Beach

Forecasts show Helene will make landfall in Florida around 8 p.m. Thursday as a major hurricane. Officials have issued hurricane and storm surge watches for portions of the Gulf Coast.

The tropical storm currently churns about 150 south of Cuba’s westernmost point. Hurricane Hunter aircraft have record sustained winds of about 50 miles per hour. Forecasts show it will reach hurricane force winds, around 74 miles per hour, around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, just as the storm system moves past the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

A tropical storm warning is now in effect for the lower and middle Florida Keys west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and for the Dry Tortugas. The warning also extends from Flamingo to the Anclote River. A tropical storm watch is now also in place for communities on Lake Okeechobee and now from the Palm Beach-Martin county line north to the Savannah River.

A hurricane watch is in place from the Anclote River to Englewood, encompassing Tampa Bay.

“A turn toward the northwest is expected tonight, followed by a general northward motion beginning on Wednesday and continuing through Friday,” a forecast reads. “On the forecast track, the center of Helene will pass near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday, and reach the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday.”

Once the eye passes the Yucatan Peninsula, the system will move into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Division of Emergency Management has urged preparation for the storm system.

“Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 may impact Florida later this week. Prepare your home NOW. If you can pick it up, put it up,” reads a message on the agency’s social media. “Anything left outside of your home can become dangerous debris in high winds. Continue to monitor the weather & listen to all orders by local officials.”