The storm could come ashore as a dangerous Category 3 or 4 hurricane with a surge over 10 feet, winds over 110 mph and flooding rain.

The U.S. Coast Guard has placed Port Canaveral on "Port Condition Whiskey" ― the lowest of four levels of alerts for approaching hurricanes or tropical storms — and urged those with vessels in the port to make preparations for potentially nasty weather.

Forecasters say they expect Tropical Storm Helene in the Caribbean Sea to strengthen rapidly and become a hurricane as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday toward the U.S. The Nationa

Tropical Storm Helene was poised to become a hurricane on Wednesday as it rapidly intensified in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, threatening to bring life-threatening storm surge to Florida within the next two days.