This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Spaghetti models, radar for Tropical Storm Helene. Pensacola impacts The National Hurricane Center said that a major hurricane will make landfall along the Florida gulf coast on Thursday. Hurricane Francine strengthened overnight and is expected to hit Louisiana today.

As Tropical Storm Helene threatens to hit Florida as a major hurricane, here's a look at conditions in the Pensacola area and around the state.

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.

Florida residents are already evacuating and filling sandbags days ahead of anticipated flooding from Tropical Storm Helene

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.