Hurricane Helene, which is currently Category 1, formed from an area of low pressure in the Caribbean, having strengthened rapidly over the last few days. The hurricane is expected to be the "strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this season," possibly hitting Category 3 or 4 strength.

A state of emergency has been declared in Florida where evacuations are underway in low-lying areas as Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become a major hurricane before it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast.