Tropical Storm Helene formed over the northwestern Caribbean on Tuesday and triggered a tropical storm warning for the Lower Florida Keys. The storm is forecast to be a major hurricane for the Florida panhandle Thursday.

The disturbance is forecast to become a hurricane Wednesday and will strengthen as it crosses the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

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.