Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane before landfall, bringing moderate wind and heavy rain to Bay County.

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

One county warned that the storm, which is expected to hit western Florida, "will be unlike anything we have experienced to date."

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.

Florida residents are already evacuating and filling sandbags days ahead of anticipated flooding from Tropical Storm Helene

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.

Florida residents are already evacuating and filling sandbags days ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Helene, which is forecast to rapidly intensify into a hurricane.