Thousands of Florida residents have been forced to evacuate as the state prepares for rapidly strengthening Tropical Storm Helene, which could bring powerful winds, flooding and life-threatening storm surge to areas already hard-hit by recent hurricanes.

Helene is expected to rapidly intensify into a major and massive hurricane with 115-mph winds by the time it makes landfall Thursday.

Tropical Storm Helene formed over the northwestern Caribbean on Tuesday and triggered a tropical storm warning for the Lower Florida Keys. The storm is forecast to be a major hurricane for the Florida panhandle Thursday.