A state of emergency has been declared in Florida, where evacuations are underway as Tropical Storm Helene strengthens. Residents in the storm’s potential path have been told to prepare for a week without power.

“Now is the time to make a contingency plan,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference Tuesday.

The storm, which is still forming, could become the strongest hurricane to hit the United States this season. The Weather Channel reports that Helene is likely to become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.

Helene is expected to rapidly strengthen and make landfall as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of over 110 mph (178 kph). Helene poses a significant threat to Florida residents.

“While it is too early to determine the exact location and extent of impacts, the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds is increasing along the Florida Panhandle and west coast of Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said Monday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday extended a state of emergency to 61 counties ahead of the storm. Helene is expected to make landfall near the Big Bend region of the Florida Panhandle, but could change course in the coming days.

In addition to strong winds, the storm threatens millions of residents along the Gulf Coast with up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rainfall and the chance of tornadoes.

“In the past, major hurricanes, with maximum sustained winds of at least 110 mph (178 km/h), have developed under similar conditions,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Duffus.

Which path does the storm take?

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the storm is located about 205 miles (330 kilometers) southeast of the western tip of Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (56 km/h) and is moving northwest at 9 mph (14 km/h).

The system is expected to become a tropical depression or storm on Tuesday.

“The Tampa Bay region is extremely vulnerable to storm surge. If this storm moves any further west, we could see severe storm surge and flooding issues in Tampa,” predicted AccuWeather’s chief hurricane expert, Alex DaSilva.

Meteorologists warned residents from Louisiana to Key West, Florida, to prepare for the storm.

The National Hurricane Center issued hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings for parts of Mexico and Cuba on Monday as the storm strengthens over the record-warm Gulf of Mexico.

The storm is expected to weaken on Friday as it moves inland across the southeast, but heavy rain and gusty winds will linger in its path for some time.

How is Florida preparing?

Florida, which was battered by Hurricane Debby earlier this season, is bracing for another storm this week. In Leon County, where Tallahassee is located, 15 sandbags will be available for each household to take home in preparation for heavy rain and flooding.

The declaration gives the state the opportunity to implement its comprehensive emergency plan, allowing resources to be deployed for logistical, rescue or evacuation operations.

“Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be as prepared as possible for the storm,” DeSantis said in a message on X.

Warnings and cautions

As of 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday, a hurricane warning was in effect for:

• Cabo Catoche, Quintana Roo, Mexico, to Tulum, Mexico

• Pinar del Río Province, Cuba

• From Englewood to Indian Pass

• Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• Great Caiman

• Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico

• Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth

A tropical storm warning was in effect for:

• Dry Tortugas

• Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge

• Flamingo South of Englewood

• West of Indian Pass to the Walton Bay County border