Tropical Storm Helene is on the cusp of reaching hurricane strength. The storm’s structure is now very well-formed.

The primary threat zone is from near Panama City around the Big Bend of Florida to about Sarasota. But the possibility of dangerous storm surge extends to Southwest Florida.

A tropical system with the potential to become a hurricane could bring heavy rain and wind to the Georgia coast and South Carolina Lowcountry.

The ingredients for a storm to develop in the northwestern Caribbean Sea or the southern Gulf of Mexico are coming together more or less as expected. On the current schedule, a storm will develop midweek and track toward the northern Gulf or the west coast of Florida.