Evacuations are underway and time is running out for Floridians to prepare for Helene, which threatens to hit as the strongest storm to make landfall in the United States in over a year. Tropical Storm Helene formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea Tuesday morning and will set off on a breakneck pace of strengthening.

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.

A storm system could soon become Hurricane Helene, and strike Florida later this week with winds as high as 115 mph.