Meteorologists are warning that Helene could even strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane before reaching the United States.
Tropical storm Helene, which is approaching Florida, has intensified into a hurricane on Wednesday, reports say NBC News.
The center of the storm has moved to the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday. The Mexican Meteorological Institute has issued storm warnings for the popular resorts of Cancún and Cozumel, among others.
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Helene is expected to pass the northeastern Yucatan coast in the next few hours and reach Florida late Thursday.
Meteorologists have warned that Helene could strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane before reaching the US coast.
Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for almost every county in the state of Florida. Some residents have prepared for the storm by evacuating their homes. Schools, among other things, have also been closed.
In addition to Florida, a state of emergency has also been declared in the state of Georgia.