A disturbance in the Caribbean Sea is expected to strengthen into a hurricane that will head toward Florida in the middle of the week.
The system, currently known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 but capable of becoming Helene if upgraded to a storm, was located about 110 miles (177 kilometers) south-southwest of Grand Cayman on Monday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center, with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (48 kph) and stronger gusts. It is moving north at 5.5 mph (9 kph).
A turn to the northwest is expected on Tuesday, followed by an acceleration in speed towards the northeast on Wednesday and Thursday, the hurricane center said.
“The center of the system is forecast to move across the northwestern Caribbean and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico over the next few days,” the hurricane center said in an update on Monday. Afternoon.
The disturbance is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday and continue to strengthen as it moves through the eastern Gulf of Mexico. A tropical storm is defined as wind speeds of 39 mph or greater, while hurricane speeds of 74 mph or greater are defined, according to the National Weather Service.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 41 counties on Monday because the possible storm poses a “significant risk” of heavy rain, flooding, storm surges and destructive winds on the state’s Gulf Coast.
This possible storm could bring rainfall of between 10 and 30 centimeters in western Cuba and the Cayman Islands and between 5 and 15 centimeters in the eastern Yucatán Peninsula, raising the risk of flash floods and urban flooding, the hurricane center said.
“Heavy rainfall will spread across the southeastern United States from Wednesday through Friday, bringing the risk of flash flooding and river flooding,” the center said.
A storm surge of about 60 to 120 centimeters is expected on the south coast of Pinar del Río in western Cuba and on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.
In Florida, sandbags are being distributed to residents of Tallahassee and Gulfport ahead of possible flooding.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Cabo Catoche in Tulum and Pinar del Río. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Rio Lagartos in Tulum, as well as Cuba’s Artemisa, Pinar del Río and the Isle of Youth or Isla de la Juventud.
If the disturbance expands into a storm, it is given the name Helene.
