Expand / Collapse search
☰

Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 live updates: Florida in path of future Hurricane Helene, new track shows

By and
Published  September 23, 2024 9:00am PDT
Hurricanes
FOX 35 Orlando

Stream FOX 35 News

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Monday morning and is forecast to become a hurricane later this week on its trek to Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

FOX 35 News is providing live updates on the tropical system below:

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine: Live Updates

11 a.m. update: 

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine has formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea and is expected to strengthen over the next few days and become a hurricane on Wednesday, the NHC said. The system will continue to strengthen as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico. 

It has maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and is moving toward the north at 6 mph. The disturbance is located about 130 miles south-southwest of the Grand Cayman and about 350 miles south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba.

The first forecast track for Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (shown below) has a portion of Florida in its path. 

The 11 a.m. track shows the system becoming a tropical depression by Tuesday, a hurricane by Wednesday morning, and reaching Category 2 status by Thursday morning as it moves toward Florida.

Should a storm or hurricane form, it would be called Helene, the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine has a high – 90% chance – for development over the next 48 hours and during the next seven days.

Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Mexico and Cuba. 

What is the forecast for Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine?

The NHC is closely watching Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (previously Invest 97L) for development as it moves northward across the Caribbean Sea and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Weather officials said that the northwestward motion would continue on Tuesday, with a quicker northward or north-northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.

The system is expected to become stronger and reach near hurricane strength by the time it moves over the far northwestern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday night.

Image 1 of 3
▼

 

Parts of western Cuba can expect to see tropical storm conditions, with hurricane conditions possible along the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.  

The disturbance is then forecast to intensify as it moves over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and possibly become a major hurricane when it nears the Gulf Coast on Thursday. 

There's a growing risk of dangerous storm surges and damaging hurricane-force winds along parts of the northern and northeastern Gulf Coast, including the Florida Panhandle and parts of Florida's west coast, according to the NHC.

Will Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine become a hurricane? Is Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine tracking toward Florida?

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to develop into a tropical depression and "rapidly intensify" into Hurricane Helene. According to FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner, some models suggest it could reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher).

"It's overwhelmingly likely we'll see a hurricane this week, and it is likely to make landfall on Thursday," Garner said, leaving four days – including Monday – for preparations, specifically along the Florida Panhandle and the Florida Gulf Coast.

In areas along and just east of its path, there could be storm surge, tornadoes, up to 6 inches of rain, and winds over 75 mph. The Orlando area may be just east of those winds, while the Gainesville region will be much closer.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Watches and Warnings

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

  • Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico
  • Cuban province of Pinar del Rio

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for.:

  • Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico
  • Cuban provinces of Artemisa, and Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth

Invest 97L tracker: Latest track, path, spaghetti models

Image 1 of 7
▼

 

Orlando 7-Day Weather Forecast

 

Orlando Hour-by-Hour Weather Forecast

 

FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar

Track live when storms move across your area using the FOX 35 Storm Storm Tracker Radar below.


 

More radar maps from FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar

Stay connected with FOX 35