Invest 97L was upgraded to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine in the National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory. Florida Panhandle and Big Bend residents should begin their hurricane preparations as forecasters expect the storm to make landfall Thursday as a Category 2 or Category 3 Hurricane Helene.

The National Hurricane Center gives Invest 97L an 80 percent chance of development in the next 7 days; it could impact Florida.

Florida Panhandle residents should be getting their hurricane preparations in order as meteorologists expect a strong Hurricane Helene.