Tropical Storm Helene is close to hurricane strength as it approaches Mexico and Florida.

The storm is expected to pass near the north-eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula this morning, move over the Gulf of Mexico today and Thursday and reach the Big Bend coast of Florida late on Thursday.

Big Bend is where Hurricane Idalia made landfall in 2023 and was also impacted by Hurricane Debby last month.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for almost all of the state’s counties.

Heavy rainfall from Helene is also expected to affect western Cuba and the Cayman Islands.