Tropical Update: Tropical Storm Helene has formed in the Caribbean | 11 a.m. Tuesday

Tropical Storm Helene has formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. It's expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico over the next 48 hours.

The National Hurricane Center says hurricane and storm surge watches have been issued for parts of Florida's Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area, ahead of potential impacts from the storm. It is expected to become the season's next hurricane by Wednesday.

Before forming, the NHC had been monitoring the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, which allowed forecasters to begin tracking the storm before it became fully organized.

As of the latest advisory, Tropical Storm Helene is about 170 miles south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba. It's moving at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds at 45 mph.

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