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

Multiple counties and cities across Central Florida are offering sandbags to residents in preparation for Tropical Storm Helene, which is forecast to become a hurricane.

A wide swath of Florida’s Gulf coast, from Tampa to Pensacola, is in the forecast path of potential Hurricane Helene, which is expected for form within days.

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.