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

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.

Tropical Storm Helene formed in the Caribbean on Tuesday and could become Hurricane Helene before it strikes Florida later this week.