Tropical Storm Helene forms in Caribbean

Tropical Storm Helene formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea and could strengthen into a major hurricane while moving north toward the US, forecasters said. Heavy rains and big waves already lashed the Cayman Islands, and some Florida residents filled sandbags days ahead of anticipated flooding.

Hurricane watches were issued for parts of Cuba, Mexico and a stretch of the Florida coastline, including Tampa Bay, the US National Hurricane Centre said. A tropical storm warning was issued for parts of the Florida Keys.

The storm was 175 miles (280 kilometres) south of the western tip of Cuba, had sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and was moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). It was expected to strengthen into Hurricane Helene on Wednesday as it approached the Gulf Coast and could become a major hurricane Thursday.

Helene, the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, could strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane – with winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph) – before approaching the northeastern Gulf Coast.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Florida’s Dry Tortugas; the lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge; Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico; and the Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth. A tropical storm warning for Grand Cayman was dropped.

Officials in the Cayman Islands closed schools, airports and government offices as strong winds knocked out power in some areas of Grand Cayman, while heavy rain and waves as high as 10 feet (3 metres) unleashed flooding.

Many in Cuba worried about the storm, whose tentacles are expected to reach the capital of Havana, which is struggling with a severe shortage of water, piles of uncollected garbage and chronic power outages.

Helene is expected to slip between Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula early Wednesday and then head north across the Gulf of Mexico.