Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on expected Hurricane Helene for Monday, Sept. 23. For the latest, view our story for Tuesday, Sept. 24. A brewing storm in the Caribbean Sea is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico over the next few days and make landfall along the Gulf Coast as early as Thursday.

NBC News meteorologist Angie Lassman on Early Today forecasts the direction, size and strength of Helene as it heads toward Florida.

Hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Cuba, Mexico and a stretch of Florida’s Gulf coast, including Tampa Bay.

Once in the Gulf, the system should become a hurricane and the NHC is forecasting it to increase to Category 3 strength right up to landfall Thursday evening. The location at this point is targeting the Florida panhandle near Apalachicola or the Big Bend area, but various models have been spread from Panama City to north of Homosassa Springs.

Helene could bring storm surge to the entire west coast — up to 15 feet near landfall in Taylor and Dixie Counties, and up to 8 feet in the Tampa Bay region. Six inches of rain could blanket the west coat, with up to 8 inches near Tampa Bay and the Big Bend area.

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

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said Florida is preparing for a direct hit from a major hurricane that could intensify quickly before it makes landfall in the Panhandle later this week. The National Hurricane Center predicted a tropical storm currently in the Gulf of Mexico will become Hurricane Helene as it moves north toward Florida by Thursday.

Helene officially developed into a named storm Tuesday and is expected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane this week.

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.