MIAMI - The hurricane season has kicked into gear with three active weather systems in the Atlantic region, the most notable of which is Hurricane Helene. What makes this hurricane unusual is that it did not form off the west coast of Africa as is typical, but surprisingly in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Mexico near Cancun.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 61 of the state’s 67 counties, urging residents in at-risk areas to follow evacuation orders.
Hurricane Helene, currently a Category 2 storm, is moving with wind speeds of about 160 km/h toward Florida’s west coast. The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area by this evening, with the potential to intensify into a Category 3 storm. This could result in significant damage, with devastating consequences for the region.
As of 11 a.m. local time, Helene was located approximately 400 kilometers southwest of Tampa, moving northeast at a speed of 22 km/h. A storm surge warning has been issued for almost the entire west coast of Florida. In some areas, water levels could rise as high as six meters, which authorities warn could be “unsurvivable.”
Two Other Systems
In addition to Helene, there are two other active systems in the Atlantic region. Tropical Storm Isaac is currently moving over the central part of the subtropical Atlantic Ocean, while a third system, located west of the Cape Verde Islands, is quickly gaining strength.
Meteorologists report that this third system has an 80 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression within 48 hours, with that probability rising to 90 percent over the next seven days. It is expected that this system will move westward before turning northward by the end of the week.