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

Once in the Gulf, the system should become a hurricane and the NHC is forecasting it to increase to Category 3 strength right up to landfall Thursday evening. The location at this point is targeting the Florida panhandle near Apalachicola or the Big Bend area, but various models have been spread from Panama City to north of Homosassa Springs.

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

Model guidance is persistent in suggesting a landfall in Apalachee Bay, right in the heart of Florida's Big Bend region.

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.

Tropical Storm Helene is currently headed through the Yucatan Peninsula bringing up to 12 inches (30.1cm) of rain to the region in Mexico. On Wednesday morning the weather front is expected to become a hurricane with the possibility of becoming a Category 3 major hurricane by the time it reaches the Florida panhandle on Thursday.