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

Invest 97L was upgraded to 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.

Millions of people living on the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida are being urged to prepare as Invest 97L continues to become better organized and will likely become Tropical Storm or Hurricane Helene as the system enters the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.