Forecasters name Tropical Storm Helene. Here’s how Columbus will be affected by wind, rain

The storms in the Caribbean have now formed a tropical storm, earning its name, Helene.

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become a hurricane at 8 a.m. Wednesday and continue to gain strength between the Yucatan peninsula and Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center and AccuWeather show a path for the storm to strike the Big Bend of Florida and go along the Georgia-Alabama state line.

How bad will wind, rain get in Columbus?

Tuesday afternoon, there was a 40% chance that Columbus would see winds of at least 39 mph once the storm hit the area, according to the National Hurricane Center's advisory. Columbus has a 5-10% chance of winds reaching 58 mph or greater. But AccuWeather is forecasting 60-80 mph winds for Columbus.

Columbus can expect tropical storm-force winds Thursday night and into Friday morning.

"Rain well ahead of the storm in Columbus is likely, it will be very very wet," Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert at AccuWeather, said. "We're concerned about flooding from rain, the storm, a vast rain shield to the north is expected."

The National Hurricane Center predicts about 4 to 5 inches of rain for the Columbus area, with a 15% chance of flash flooding with minor to moderate river flooding likely, and isolated major river flooding possible.

AccuWeather has forecasted the storm to be at least a Category 3 hurricane with winds of at least 111 mph before it makes landfall on the Gulf Coast Thursday at 8 p.m.

How are meteorologists so sure it will be a major hurricane?

"Sea surface temperatures. are extremely warm," DaSilva said. " There is plenty of moisture and wind sheer which make up the concerns for a major hurricane."

According to Climate Central, the climate think tank, the temperatures at the location where Helene formed made the hurricane 400 times more likely because of human-caused climate change. Waters in that area are near 90 degrees, temperature maps show.

The depth of the warm water is about 300-400 feet below the sea surface and that is what is giving Helene strength right now, DaSilva said.