 A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa on September 10 and gradually developed into Tropical Depression Twelve on September 15 , while located more than 600 miles ( 970 km ) east of the Leeward Islands . It did not intensify and degenerated to a tropical wave on the following day . The remnants continued westward and crossed the Leeward Islands on September 17 . Late on September 19 , the remnants redeveloped into Tropical Depression Twelve near Grand Cayman . Around 1200 UTC on September 20 , the depression crossed near the western tip of Cuba . Entering the Gulf of Mexico , the depression began strengthening , and became Tropical Storm Helene at early on September 21 , while tracking northward . Later that day , Helene peaked with winds of 70 mph ( 110 km / h ) , though due to increasing wind shear , the storm soon began to weaken . At 1200 UTC on September 22 , Helene made landfall near Fort Walton Beach , Florida with winds of 40 mph ( 65 km / h ) . Although the storm weakened slightly inland , it later began re @-@ strengthening and became a tropical storm over North Carolina late on September 23 . After re @-@ emerging into the Atlantic Ocean , Helene re @-@ intensified to near hurricane status , though the storm was absorbed by a cold front on September 26 , while east @-@ southeast of Newfoundland . 
