The threat of what is forecast to become Hurricane Helene had the National Hurricane Center on Tuesday issue hurricane watches for Florida’s Gulf Coast warning storm surge could reach as

Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. In this case, the hot stove is already on, with warmer than normal water across the Gulf expected to help boost the storm’s winds as much as 75 mph by Thursday morning.

Florida's Gulf Coast is bracing for the potential of a significant hurricane landfall later this week, as a possible tropical storm that could ultimately become Hurricane Helene is organizing in the Caribbean.