Tropical Storm Helene approaching African islands

MIAMI (FOX 35 WOFL) - Officials say Tropical Storm Helene is approaching islands off the western coast of Africa and is expected to become a hurricane soon. 

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday morning that it expects Helene to produce tropical storm conditions for parts of the Cabo Verde Islands on Sunday. Strengthening is forecasted during the next 48 hours and Helen is expected to become a hurricane later on Sunday.

As of 11 a.m. EDT, the storm was located about 120 miles southeast of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands. The storm's maximum sustained winds are 65 mph and it is moving west at 13 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest is forecasted to occur by Monday. 

The NHC says that Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over the southern Cabo Verde Islands through Sunday. Officials say heavy rainfall on the islands could produce life-threatening flash floods.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch are in effect for the Cabo Verde islands of Santiago, Fogo, and Brava. 

Meanwhile, separate from Helene's track, Florence is now a hurricane and continues to strengthen as it moves toward the mainland. Florence is expected to become a major hurricane by Monday. A third tropical storm, Isaac, has also formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and is strengthening

Be sure to keep up with the latest on the 2018 Hurricane Season HERE. And you can download your Hurricane Guide in English HERE or in Spanish HERE.   

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The Associated Press (AP) has contributed to this story.