This story has been updated with new information.

A developing storm in the Caribbean Sea is expected to intensify into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico in the upcoming days, potentially making landfall on the Gulf Coast as soon as Thursday as a significant Category 3 storm.

AccuWeather’s Lead Hurricane Expert, Alex DaSilva, warned on Monday that residents in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area should begin preparing for hurricane impacts, highlighting that it might be the most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S. this season.

According to Weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Erdman, most prediction models indicate that this hurricane will hit either Florida or the northern Gulf Coast on Thursday.

The weather system was classified as “potential tropical cyclone nine” on Monday morning and will be named Helene once it develops into a tropical storm, which is likely to occur later today or by Tuesday.

Residents in the Gulf Coast Urged to Prepare Immediately

This hurricane differs from many others, which typically take several days or weeks to traverse the Atlantic, allowing for more advance warning. This storm is expected to grow and gain strength quickly upon entering the Gulf of Mexico.

AccuWeather meteorologist Jon Porter suggested that now is the ideal time to get ready for a hurricane strike along the Gulf Coast, emphasizing not to wait for the storm to be officially named.

He noted that there is a chance this system could further escalate into a major hurricane, classified as a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with maximum winds ranging from 111 to 129 mph.

Porter remarked that this could be the defining storm of the 2024 hurricane season.

Current Status of the System

The National Hurricane Center reported that showers and thunderstorms are becoming increasingly organized around a broad area of low pressure in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, as noted in their Monday morning forecast.

The center also stated, “The environmental conditions are favorable for further development of this system.”

“A tropical depression or storm is expected to form within the next day or two as the system moves northward from the northwestern Caribbean Sea into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, which will allow for additional development.”

Projected Strength of Helene

According to Erdman, Helene has the potential to develop into a powerful hurricane, benefiting from the ample warm water present in the northwest Caribbean and parts of the Gulf of Mexico.

Brian McNoldy, a tropical scientist at the University of Miami, noted that the Gulf of Mexico’s heat content is at record high levels for this time of year.

Expected Effects from Helene

Wind: Sustained winds could reach up to 111 mph, with gusts possibly peaking at 120 mph where the storm makes landfall on Thursday.

Rain: Widespread rainfall of 8-12 inches may occur, leading to potential flooding. Rounds of rain might start as early as late Tuesday afternoon or evening over the Keys and then push northward, according to the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network.

Power outages: Anticipated regional and localized power outages may affect the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area, as well as large parts of Georgia, Alabama, southern Tennessee, and some areas of far western South Carolina and North Carolina, according to AccuWeather.

Storm surge and tornadoes also pose a risk as the storm approaches later in the week.

Predictions of an ‘Extraordinary Season’ This Year

This year, federal meteorologists forecasted an “extraordinary” hurricane season with as many as 24 named storms anticipated.

In contrast, a typical hurricane season averages 14 named storms, based on records from 1991 to 2020.