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The National Hurricane Center has begun issuing advisories for Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, a system expected to become Tropical Storm Helene later today or tonight. While it is currently producing disorganized thunderstorms across the northwestern Caribbean, forecasters say it is likely to develop a more defined center of circulation soon.
Once that center forms, Helene is expected to strengthen quickly. Warm ocean waters and favorable atmospheric conditions could support rapid intensification as the storm moves northward. Meteorologists are closely monitoring its development for signs that it is becoming a fully organized tropical storm.
Forecasts show Helene passing through the Yucatán Channel within the next 24 to 36 hours before entering the Gulf of Mexico. Conditions in the eastern Gulf appear favorable for additional strengthening, raising concerns that the system could become a significant hurricane before reaching the U.S. coast.