A system that could develop into a major storm in the next 72 hours is gaining strength in the Caribbean and could move as far north as Tennessee, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm system, whose status was upgraded to “potential tropical cyclone 9” on Monday morning, will continue to brew over the Gulf of Mexico over the next few days and could make landfall somewhere along the Gulf Coast as early as Thursday as a potential Category 3 hurricane.

“Everyone along the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region needs to be prepared for the impacts of a hurricane,” AccuWeather senior hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said Monday.

If the storm continues to grow, it would be the eighth storm of the year to bear the name Helene.

Here’s the latest on the storm, its possible path, and expected impacts on Tennessee.

Will a Caribbean storm system hit Tennessee?

It’s too early to estimate the potential impacts this storm will have on Tennessee. The latest spaghetti models for possible paths show that it could hit any part of the Volunteer State as it moves inland, and could also miss the state entirely. The National Weather Service predicts that this storm could bring the rain to Tennessee that was originally expected with Hurricane Francine.

“The heaviest rains are expected to occur Wednesday through Friday, with totals of several inches. These rain forecasts will be refined in the coming days, but it looks like the region will see some good rainfall that will provide at least some relief from the ongoing drought,” the National Weather Service’s forecast discussion said.

Rain is forecast for most of the state for the remainder of the week, although the effects of the storm will not be seen until later in the week.

Spaghetti models for potential Tropical Cyclone Nine

https://data.tallahassee.com/storm/nine/al092024/#spaghettiEmbed:

How many storms form in the Gulf and Atlantic?

When is hurricane season?

The hurricane season began on June 1 and ends in late November. Before the start of the 2024 hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an “above average” season with 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

If the storm forms in the Caribbean as expected, DaSilva said it has the potential to become a Category 3 hurricane and could become one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States this season.

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Tennessean: Hurricane track for potential Tropical Cyclone Nine includes Tennessee