Multiple counties and cities across Central Florida are making sandbags available to residents in preparation for Tropical Storm Helene, which is forecast to develop into a hurricane by Thursday. Orange County has six sandbag sites open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.

Tropical Storm Helene formed on Tuesday and is forecast intensify into a major hurricane before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf coast by Thursday afternoon. Here’s the latest

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and surrounding areas are just outside the forecast cone for Hurricane Helene, which could make landfall as a Category 3 or higher hurricane on Thursday.

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.

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.