Hurricane Helene is rapidly "accelerating" toward Florida's Panhandle, according to a 4 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm conditions were recorded "across most of the West Coast of Florida," meteorologists said.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Monday morning and is forecast to become a hurricane later this week, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 (PTC 9) is officially in the Caribbean, and the Wiregrass is in the cone of uncertainty. As of the 4 PM advisory from the National Hurricane Center, PTC 9 was located in the Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving NNW at 7