Accuweather.com reports that an evolving storm in the Caribbean is expected to intensify into a hurricane -- to be named Helene -- before moving north and making landfall along the United States Gulf Coast on Thursday.
The current tracking map estimates the potential hurricane to be a Category 2 when it makes landfall with winds of 96-110 miles per hour, but because of the very warm waters in the Gulf, there is the potential that it could further strengthen into a major Category 3 storm with 111-129 mph winds.
Storm surge and spin-up tornadoes could be included in the effects of the hurricane along the coast when it arrives.
The preliminary path of intense tropical moisture is modeled to move north from the Gulf coast and reach as far as the lower Ohio Valley and southern Illinois by Saturday.
(Map: Accuweather.com)
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