Helene could become a hurricane near Pinar del Río.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported this Tuesday that the tropical system Helene is moving toward the Cuban province of Pinar del Río with the potential to intensify and become a hurricane in the coming hours.

The entity issued alerts for the affected coastal areas, warning about the possibility of severe weather conditions.

The Civil Defense of Cuba also called on the population to stay informed and comply with the authorities' instructions.

However, even pro-government journalists have pointed out that amidst blackouts of up to 12 hours a day, it is very difficult for the people of Pinar to stay informed about the evolution of this weather system.

The NHC estimates that the center of the tropical cyclone will move over the sea to the north between Pinar del Río and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.

In this region, winds can reach speeds of up to 110 mph, hurricane category.

Then Helene will continue her journey towards Florida, particularly affecting the counties facing the Gulf of Mexico.

However, the entity notes that the effects of Helene could be felt hundreds of miles from its center, so residents in neighboring counties like Miami-Dade could feel the impacts of the hurricane.

Areas experiencing hurricane-force winds (more than 74 mph) and tropical storm winds (39-73 mph) could be significantly affected, even outside the areas outlined in the NHC graph, the note states.

That agency has also indicated that there is uncertainty in the forecast, which includes a cone area representing the possible path of the cyclone in the next five days.

It is expected that the center of the cyclone will remain within this cone 60 to 70% of the time.

Residents of Pinar del Río and the surrounding areas should prepare for severe conditions, including strong winds and potential heavy rainfall, the entity emphasizes.

The situation with Helene is constantly evolving, and the public is advised to stay informed and prepared.

In Pinar del Río, the rains associated with the system have already started to be felt and will last until Friday, increasing the risk of minor to moderate flooding in some rivers of the region.