THIS IS A NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM HELENE ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE, AT 6:00 PM, THURSDAY, 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2018.

…TROPICAL STORM WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE AZORES ISLANDS FOR HELENE…

AT 5:00 PM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM HELENE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.3°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 37.0° WEST OR ABOUT 1035 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LAJES AIR BASE IN THE AZORES.

HELENE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 21 MILES PER HOUR. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO ACCELERATE AND TUEN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST BY MONDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK HELENE WILL BE CROSSING OVER OR NEAR THE AZORES LATE SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. 

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DROPPED TO NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.