Tropical Storm Helene strengthens as hurricane warnings cover parts of Florida and Mexico

Tropical Storm Helene was rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and expected to become a hurricane Wednesday while moving north along Mexico's coast toward the U.S., prompting residents to evacuate, schools to close and officials to declare emergencies in Florida and Georgia.

The storm is forecast to be “near hurricane strength” when it passes near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, and to “intensify and grow in size” as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rainfall was forecast for the southeastern U.S. starting Wednesday, with a “life-threatening storm surge” along the entire west coast of Florida, according to the center.

Helene is expected to become a major hurricane — a Category 3 or higher — on Thursday, the day it's set to reach Florida's Gulf Coast, according to the hurricane center. The center has issued hurricane warnings for part of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Florida's northwestern coastline, where large storm surges of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) were expected.

Mexico is still reeling from former Hurricane John battering its other coast. John hit the country's southern Pacific coast late Monday, killing two people, blowing tin roofs off houses, triggering mudslides and toppling scores of trees, officials said Tuesday.

John grew into a Category 3 hurricane in a matter of hours Monday and made landfall about 80 miles (128 kilometers) east of the resort of Acapulco, near the town of Punta Maldonado, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph) before weakening to a tropical storm after moving inland.

Helene, which formed Tuesday in the Caribbean, is expected to move over deep, warm waters, fueling its intensification. People in regions under hurricane warnings and watches should be prepared to lose power and should have enough food and water for at least three days, forecasters warned.

Hurricane watches — which are a step down from warnings — were also in effect for parts of western Cuba and Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, the National Hurricane Center said.

“It’s going to be a very large system with impacts across all of Florida,” said Larry Kelly, a specialist at the hurricane center.

Several counties on Florida's west and northwestern coasts have issued evacuation orders. Multiple school districts, including in the areas around Tampa and the state capital Tallahassee, plan to close schools or reduce hours starting Wednesday.

Some residents started filling sandbags ahead of anticipated flooding and began leaving areas on the coast.

President Joe Biden declared an emergency in Florida and deployed Federal Emergency Management Agency teams to Florida and Alabama to support local first responders. Federal authorities were positioning generators, food and water, along with search-and-rescue and power restoration teams, the White House said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also issued an emergency for most of the state's counties, while Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared an emergency in his state as well.

The storm is anticipated to be unusually large and fast-moving, meaning storm surges, wind and rain will likely extend far from the storm’s center, the hurricane center said. States as far inland as Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana could see rainfall.

Heavy rains and big waves already lashed the Cayman Islands on Tuesday. Officials there closed schools, airports and government offices as strong winds knocked out power in some areas of Grand Cayman, while heavy rain and waves as high as 10 feet (3 meters) unleashed flooding. Authorities urged people to stay indoors as the storm moved away later Tuesday and said crews would fan out to assess damage.

Many in Cuba also worried about the storm, whose tentacles are expected to reach the capital of Havana, which is struggling with a severe water shortage, piles of uncollected garbage and chronic power outages.

Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. Since 2000, eight major hurricanes have made landfall in Florida, according to Philip Klotzbach, a Colorado State University hurricane researcher.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record-warm ocean temperatures. It forecast 17 to 25 named storms before the season ends Nov. 30, with four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

Associated Press journalists Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Andrea Rodríguez in Havana; Marcia Dunn in Cape Canaveral, Florida; Mark Stevenson and María Verza in Mexico City; and Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon, contributed to this report.

Denis Keeran, of Maitland, fills sandbags at the Orange County distribution site at Barnett Park in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, ahead of the forecast for the possibility of heavy rains in Central Florida. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Residents fill sandbags at the Orange County distribution site at Barnett Park in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, ahead of the forecast for the possibility of heavy rains in Central Florida. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Residents Dennis Lusby, left, and John Guerra fill sandbags at the Orange County distribution site at Barnett Park in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, ahead of the forecast for the possibility of heavy rains in Central Florida. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

A person wearing plastic walks in the street after the passing of Hurricane John in Marquelia, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Alberto Cruz)

A person walks in the rain after the passing of Hurricane John in Marquelia, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Alberto Cruz)

Karl Bohlmann, left, and Tangi Bohlmann, of Tarpon Springs, collect sandbags at a public site while residents prepare their homes for potential flooding, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Fla., as the Tropical Storm Helene approaches. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Sandbags are filled at a public site while residents prepare their homes for potential flooding, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Fla., as Tropical Storm Helene approaches. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Justin Fogle, of College Parks, fills a sandbag at the Orange County distribution site at Barnett Park in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, ahead of the forecast for the possibility of heavy rains in Central Florida. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite image taken at 6:10pm ET shows Tropical Storm Helene off the Gulf Coast of Florida near Mexico and Cuba on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (NOAA via AP)

HOUSTON (AP) — Jason Heyward hit a go-ahead, two-run homer and made a dazzling defensive play as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Tuesday night to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West championship.

Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker each added a solo home run for the Astros, who are headed to the postseason for the eighth year in a row.

The Astros trailed by one with no outs in the fifth inning when Victor Caratini singled before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Peña.

Heyward, who wowed on defense in the top of the inning, launched his home run to the second deck in right field off Logan Gilbert (8-12) to put Houston on top 4-3.

Heyward, who signed with the Astros last month after his release by the Dodgers, is filling in for Yordan Alvarez, who is out with a knee sprain.

“What an opportunity,” Heyward said. “You never know where you’re going to be. It’s a different journey than most to get here, but it’s really cool that the game allows that to happen. And to come into a winning clubhouse, with a winning culture, that says a lot about what people think of me and it’s fun to give that back to them.”

The Mariners had runners on first and third with one out in the eighth before Ryan Pressly retired Mitch Garver on a flyball. Josh Hader took over and struck out J.P. Crawford to preserve the lead.

Hader returned for the ninth and retired pinch-hitter Luis Urías before striking out Victor Robles and Julio Rodríguez to earn his 34th save.

First-year Astros manager Joe Espada was overwhelmed as the final out was recorded.

“Oh my God. Unbelievable,” he said. “Tears came out of my eyes. I’m emotional because I care about this team. I love this team, and the fact that we are in a position to compete for another World Series is special.”

Framber Valdez (15-7) permitted eight hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings for the win.

Jorge Polanco homered among his season-high four hits and had two RBIs for the Mariners, who dropped 2 1/2 games below the postseason cutoff in a crowded race for the final two American League wild cards.

“It’s always hard when you watch a team celebrate,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “But I think the message here is that there’s a lot of different scenarios that could still take place. And we keep fighting ... and turn around and see what happens.”

Justin Turner and Polanco singled to open the sixth, but Garver grounded out before Valdez struck out Crawford to end his outing.

Bryan Abreu came in and pinch-hitter Luke Raley grounded out as Houston escaped the jam.

Gilbert allowed five hits, four runs and tied a season high by giving up three homers in six innings.

There were two outs in the first when Bregman sent a fastball from Gilbert over the fence in center field to make it 1-0.

Polanco tied it when homered to left on Valdez’s second pitch of the second inning.

Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh singled to open the third before the Mariners took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double by Randy Arozarena. There was one out when Polanco singled to score Rodríguez and make it 3-1.

Tucker’s shot to start the Houston fourth sailed over the short wall in right field to cut the lead to 3-2.

Heyward robbed Raleigh of extra bases with a leaping catch in left field for the second out of the fifth. Heyward crashed into the metal scoreboard on the wall after making the play, knocking out a panel with his left hand.

He was shaken up by the collision and fell to the ground writhing in pain. Heyward was checked by an athletic trainer but remained in the game before hitting his homer in the bottom half.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: Alvarez was feeling better after spraining his right knee Sunday on a slide, but wasn't sure when he’ll return. “I really can’t do much right now,” he said. “Inflammation obviously is still there and I can’t even turn my knee right now.”

UP NEXT

The Mariners hadn’t announced their starter for Wednesday’s series finale. LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.19 ERA) will pitch for Houston.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco is greet by third base coach Manny Acta, left, after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz (21) and Alex Bregman (2) celebrate a solo home run by Bregman during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jason Heyward (22) collects high-fives in the dugout after his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman (2) connects for a home run in front of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker flips his bat as he watches his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jason Heyward gestures to the dugout as he rounds the bases on his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)