Tropical Storm Helene was rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and expected to become a hurricane Wednesday while moving north along Mexico's coast toward the U.S., prompting residents to evacuate,

Tropical Storm Helene was rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and expected to become a hurricane Wednesday while moving north along Mexico’s coast toward the U.S., prompting residents to evacuate, schools to close and officials to declare emergencies in Florida and Georgia.

Helene formed in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Here's a look at the latest models:

Tropical Storm Helene was expected to hit Mexico and Cuba on Wednesday as it tracked north toward the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The storm could strengthen into a hurricane before it makes landfall,

Tropical Storm Helene promised 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.

Tropical Storm Helene continues to strengthen and is forecast to make landfall on the Big Bend Coast of Florida late Thursday night.

Another storm system is taking aim at Florida, this time possibly the Panhandle with storm effects all along the Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Helene, soon to be a hurricane, is sweeping up from the Caribbean Sea into extremely warm waters that are fuel for tropical cyclones.