Meteorologists are warning that a storm currently brewing over the western Caribbean could potentially become the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the United States this season.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency ahead of the weather system, which will be named Helene once it is officially classified as a tropical storm. It is expected to make landfall as a possible Category 3 hurricane near the Big Bend region of the Florida Panhandle.

The storm threatens millions of residents along the Gulf Coast with up to 30 centimeters of rainfall, high wind speeds between 188 and 207 km/h and tornadoes.

“In the past, major hurricanes have developed under similar conditions with maximum sustained winds of at least 110 mph,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Duffus.

Where is the path of the storm going?

According to the National Hurricane Center, the potential storm was a disorganized system of showers and thunderstorms brewing over the northwestern Caribbean on Monday afternoon.

However, meteorologists expect the system to develop into a tropical depression or storm on its northwestern side over the next one to two days on Tuesday.

“The Tampa Bay region is extremely vulnerable to storm surge. If this storm moves further west, we could see severe storm surge and flooding in Tampa,” predicted Alex DaSilva, senior hurricane expert at AccuWeather.

But meteorologists warned residents from Louisiana to Key West, Florida, to prepare for the storm.

The National Hurricane Center issued hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings for parts of Mexico and Cuba on Monday as the storm intensifies over the record-warm Gulf of Mexico.

The storm is expected to weaken by Friday as it moves inland across the Southeast, but heavy rain and wind gusts are expected to continue along its path.

How is Florida preparing?

Florida, which was hit by Hurricane Debby earlier this season, is bracing for another storm this week. In Leon County, home to Tallahassee, 15 sandbags are available for every household to take home to brace for heavy rain and flooding.

With the forecast still uncertain, DeSantis has already declared a state of emergency in 41 counties. The declaration allows the state to implement its comprehensive emergency plan and direct resources to any logistical, rescue or evacuation operations.

“Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be as prepared as possible for the storm,” DeSantis said in a post on X.

Observations and warnings

At 2:00 p.m. ET on Monday, the NHC warning said:

A hurricane warning was in effect for:

• Cabo Catoche, Quintana Roo, Mexico to Tulum, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

• Pinar del Río Province, Cuba

A tropical storm warning was in effect for:

• Rio Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico to Tulum, Mexico

• Artemisa Province, Cuba

• Pinar del Río Province, Cuba

• Island of Youth, Cuba