Tropical Storm Helene is expected to unleash mudslides and flooding in Cuba before reaching major hurricane strength on Thursday as it hits Florida with life-threatening ocean surge, the U.S. National Weather Service said.

The Southeast US as well as parts of Cuba and Mexico are under a severe weather watch as a disturbance, which has the potential to become a hurricane makes its way toward the Gulf Coast

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 conditions, and potentially hurricane conditions, are anticipated over parts of western Cuba and the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday night. The storm is then expected to intensify and become a major hurricane,

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

In addition to inhabitants of the Big Bend and Panhandle areas, residents from Fort Myers, Fla., to Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., should remain on alert

A hurricane watch and warnings of storm surges up to 15 feet high were issued Tuesday for almost all of Florida's western coastline as a potential tropical storm moves across the Caribbean Sea and towards the Gulf Coast.