PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (AP) — Two people are dead after former hurricane John barreled into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, blowing tin roofs off houses, triggering mudslides and toppling scores of trees, officials said Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Helene was rapidly strengthening and expected to become a hurricane Wednesday, prompting evacuations, schools closures and declaredemergencies in Florida and Georgia.

Tropical Storm Helene formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea and could strengthen into a major hurricane while moving north toward the U.S., forecasters said.