SAN JUAN (AP) – Heavy rains lashed the Cayman Islands yesterday as forecasters warned that a nearby cluster of thunderstorms could soon become a major hurricane en route to the southeast United States (US).
Hurricane watches were in effect for Florida’s Tampa Bay and from Englewood to Indian Pass, as well as for eastern Mexico from Cabo Catoche to Tulum and for Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province.
Hurricane conditions could be possible in parts of Cuba and Mexico early today and in parts of Florida later today and early tomorrow, according to the National Hurricane Centre.
The disturbance would then move “over extremely deep and warm waters” that would fuel its intensification.
“Conditions look quite favourable for strengthening over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday,” the centre said. “This system will become quite large and powerful before landfall.”
The disturbance is expected to become Tropical Storm Helene and then strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane before approaching the northeast Gulf Coast. Since 2000, eight major hurricanes have made landfall in Florida, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Philip Klotzbach.
