Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 is expected to strengthen into Hurricane Helene Wednesday and could be a Category 3 hurricane by landfall Thursday.

As of the 11 a.m. update, Tropical Storm Helene had 45 mph sustained winds and was about 170 miles south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba. It was headed northwest at 12 mph, a faster clip than earlier in the morning.

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane with 115-mph winds before landfall Thursday.

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

Hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Cuba, Mexico and a stretch of Florida’s Gulf coast, including Tampa Bay.

Forecasters say they expect Tropical Storm Helene in the Caribbean Sea to strengthen rapidly and become a hurricane as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday toward the U.S. The Nationa

Another storm system is taking aim at Florida, this time possibly the Panhandle with storm effects all along the Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Helene, soon to be a hurricane, is sweeping up from the Caribbean Sea into extremely warm waters that are fuel for tropical cyclones.

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.