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Here we go again. Another tropical cyclone is about to undergo rapid intensification Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Tropical Storm Helene will likely become a hurricane on Wednesday. The storm is forecast to track northward into the bathwater warmth of the Gulf of Mexico. Water temperatures in the Gulf are in the mid and upper 80s this week.

The warm waters will act as rocket fuel for Helene. Forecast models blow up Helene into a major hurricane Wednesday into Thursday.

 is for Helene to peak at 115 mph winds before landfall Thursday. But additional intensification is very possible. 

Computer forecast models consensus lies around a likely landfall along Florida’s Big bend area Thursday. 

Storm surge over 10 feet is likely in the Big Bend. Surge of 5 to 8 feet is possible around the Tampa Bay area. 

Paul Huttner

Author

Helene is likely to undergo rapid intensification on Wednesday. 

Helene likely to rapidly intensify Wednesday

Helene likely to rapidly intensify Wednesday

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