A hurricane watch and warnings of storm surges up to 15 feet high were issued Tuesday for almost all of Florida's western coastline as Tropical Storm Helene formed over the Caribbean Sea, and heads towards the Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Helene gained strength Wednesday and is forecast to become a hurricane later in the day as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico where the National Hurricane Center said it will intensify into a major Category 3 storm.

Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order for Tropical Cyclone Nine, declaring a state of emergency in 41 Florida counties ahead of the storm. The National Hurricane Center has upgraded the storm system in the Caribbean to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.