A hurricane watch and warnings of storm surges up to 15 feet high were issued Tuesday for almost all of Florida's western coastline as Tropical Storm Helene formed over the Caribbean Sea and heads toward the Gulf Coast.

Evacuations are underway and time is running out for Floridians to prepare for Tropical Storm Helene, which threatens to hit as the strongest storm to make landfall in the United States in over a year.

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and surrounding areas are just outside the forecast cone for Hurricane Helene, which could make landfall as a Category 3 or higher hurricane on Thursday.