Thousands of Florida residents have been forced to evacuate as the state and the Southeast prepare for an exceptionally massive storm.

Tropical Storm Helene was rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and expected to become a hurricane Wednesday while moving north along Mexico’s coast toward the U.S.

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater are outside the forecast cone for Hurricane Helene, but the region will experience hurricane-force winds and high storm surges. Here’s the latest forecast