Future Tropical Storm Helene: possible affected areas and could it become a hurricane?

Forecasters are monitoring a broad area of low pressure in the western Caribbean Sea called Invest 97L by the National Hurricane Center.

Thunderstorms are increasingly becoming more organized within the weather system, which is expected to develop into Tropical Storm Helene within the next day or so.

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Future Tropical Storm Helene: possible affected areas and could it become a hurricane?

The storm could also strengthen into a powerful hurricane before it strikes parts of the United States including Florida and Louisiana, or the northern Gulf Coast. It may become a hurricane by Wednesday, and could be intense when it makes landfall, according to weather forecasting models.

“The system is forecast to move generally northward across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and interests along the northern and northeastern Gulf Coast should also closely monitor the progress of this system,” according to the weather agency.

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The hurricane center is advising millions of residents along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Louisiana to keep themselves posted on the storm’s development in the coming days, and to ensure they are prepared in the event the weather system develops into a hurricane and makes landfall in the area.

While it’s too early to specify the effects of the storm, the National Weather Service is alerting people to be ready for possible storm surge, torrential rain, strong winds, and perilous beach conditions, because the storm could develop quickly.