Tropical storm Helene strengthens as hurricane threatening U.S. Florida

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tropical storm Helene has become a Category 1 hurricane shortly before noon of Wednesday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

NHC forecasters predict the hurricane will pick up speed as it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast on Thursday evening.