Helene is expected to rapidly intensify into a major and massive hurricane with 115-mph winds by the time it makes landfall Thursday.

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.

The Gulf Coast is bracing for a major hurricane landfall late this week as Tropical Storm Helene​ is forecast to rapidly intensify into a Category 3 storm and strike the Florida coast.