The tropical system in the western Caribbean may not look like much yet, but don’t be fooled. History has shown the Gulf of Mexico can be a pressure cooker, turning systems like this one from wimpy windstorms to devastating monster storms almost overnight under the right conditions.

Here's a day-by-day look at how Tropical Storm Helene will develop and where it will be before becoming a major hurricane and making landfall.

Florida was bracing for the arrival of Helene, which was expected to bring torrential rains, destructive winds and storm surges. NBC News' Marissa Parra reports from Florida, where dozens of counties are under states of emergency.