A hurricane warning is now in effect for Florida's west coast from the Anclote River in Pasco County to Mexico Beach in Bay County, as Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall late Thursday. A storm surge warning has also been issued from Flamingo to Indian Pass,

Helene was heading toward the island of Cozumel off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as of the National Hurricane Center's 10 p.m. CDT advisory, with sustained winds increasing to 60 mph. The storm is projected to dump heavy rain and trigger possible mudslides across western Cuba while passing between the island and the Yucatan on Tuesday night.

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to unleash mudslides and flooding in Cuba before reaching major hurricane strength on Thursday as it hits Florida with life-threatening ocean surge, the U.S. National Weather Service said.