Helene reached hurricane strength Wednesday morning as it continues to undergo rapid intensification along its journey into the Gulf of Mexico, where it eventually is aiming for a destructive landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast.
TAMPA, Fla. – Helene reached hurricane strength Wednesday morning as it continues to undergo rapid intensification along its journey into the Gulf of Mexico, where it is aiming for a destructive landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.
Hurricane Warnings and Storm Surge Warnings spread across the west coast of Florida as Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane, bringing the potential for life-threatening storm surge, flooding rain and destructive hurricane-force winds.
TRACKING HELENE: LIVE FORECAST CONE, SPAGHETTI MODELS, ALERTS, WIND PROJECTIONS AND MORE
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 25: Kyley Weems bags sand in preparation for possible flooding on September 25, 2024 in Tallahassee, Florida. Forecasts predict Tropical Storm Helene will strengthen to a hurricane, making landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) ( )
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 25: Kyley Weems, right, and Jordan Rochester carry bagged sand in preparation for possible flooding on September 25, 2024 in Tallahassee, Florida. Forecasts predict Tropical Storm Helene will strengthen to a hurricane, making landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) ( )
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 25: Jordan Rochester, right, and Kyley Weems bag sand in preparation for possible flooding on September 25, 2024 in Tallahassee, Florida. Forecasts predict Tropical Storm Helene will strengthen to a hurricane, making landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) ( )
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 25: People bag sand in preparation for possible flooding on September 25, 2024 in Tallahassee, Florida. Forecasts predict Tropical Storm Helene will strengthen to a hurricane, making landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) ( )
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This photo shows utility crews staging in Florida ahead of Helene. ( )
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This photo shows utility crews staging in Florida ahead of Helene. ( )
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This photo shows utility crews staging in Florida ahead of Helene. ( )
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This image shows empty shelves at a Winn-Dixie in St. Petersburg, Florida, ahead of Helene. (Michael Estime)
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This image shows empty shelves at a Winn-Dixie in St. Petersburg, Florida, ahead of Helene. (Michael Estime)
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ST. PETE BEACH, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 2: Storm clouds are seen on the horizon as the sun sets on September 24, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane, bringing a potential for deadly storm surge, flooding rain, and destructive hurricane-force winds along parts of the Florida West coast. Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ( )
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Storm clouds are pictured as people walk on the beach ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene in Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico on September 24, 2024. (Photo by Elizabeth Ruiz / AFP) (Photo by ELIZABETH RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Storm clouds are pictured as people walk on the beach ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene in Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico on September 24, 2024. (Photo by Elizabeth Ruiz / AFP) (Photo by ELIZABETH RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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A surfer leaves the beach ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene in Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico on September 24, 2024. (Photo by Elizabeth Ruiz / AFP) (Photo by ELIZABETH RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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People secure their boats ahead of the arrival of soon-to-be Hurricane Helene in Cancun, Quintana Roo state, Mexico on September 24, 2024. (Photo by Elizabeth Ruiz / AFP) (Photo by ELIZABETH RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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This image shows waves crashing on shore in Grand Cayman as Tropical Storm Helene lashes the region. (@Kelsey_RaeSmith/X)
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This image shows conditions as Tropical Storm Helene lashed Grand Cayman on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (@Kelsey_RaeSmith/X)
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This image shows long lines as a gas station in Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Ryan Cedergren)
The National Hurricane Center says there is danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Big Bend, with the highest water levels – as much as 15 feet above dry land – expected in the Big Bend area as the storm comes ashore late Thursday. Tampa Bay could see 5-8 feet of storm surge inundation under current forecasts.
Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for swaths of Florida’s Gulf Coast from the Panhandle across the Big Bend and into Southwest Florida. This includes portions of Hillsborough County, which is where Tampa is located, for Zone A.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Tuesday declaring a state of emergency for 61 of the state’s 67 counties to help agencies prepare for the incoming storm.
Where is Hurricane Helene?
The latest information on Hurricane Helene.
(FOX Weather)
Hurricane Helene is currently located near Mexico‘s Yucatan Peninsula.
What is the forecast track for Hurricane Helene?
The forecast track for Hurricane Helene.
(FOX Weather)
Helene’s maximum sustained winds have increased to at least 75 mph with higher gusts, according to the NHC’s latest update.
Helene has rapidly intensified as it approaches the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to become a major hurricane, defined as winds of at least 115 mph, as it moves toward the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday. The current 120-mph peak intensity forecast would rate the storm a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.
Where are watches and warnings in effect for Hurricane Helene?
The latest alerts in effect for Hurricane Helene.
(FOX Weather)
A Hurricane Warning has been issued from Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida, where damaging hurricane-force winds are expected to begin later Thursday. The NHC is urging those in the warning areas to complete any preparations by early Thursday morning.
Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for all of the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas, as well as the entire Florida west coast from Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay. The Tropical Storm Warnings are also in effect west of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County line and the east coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River.
WHAT TO DO WHEN HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR TOWN
What is the Storm Surge Forecast for Hurricane Helene?
Helene is expected to be a large hurricane in size – perhaps ranking among the 90% percentile among typical hurricanes in the area, according to the NHC.
With the large storm size and track, life-threatening storm surge is possible. Water could reach 10-15 feet above dry level if the surge comes in at high tide between the Ochlockonee River and Chassahowitzka along Florida’s Big Bend, according to the NHC. But storm surge of varying heights is expected all along the entire west coast of Florida, with higher levels expected the closer you get to Helene’s eventual landfall location.
The storm surge forecast for Hurricane Helene.
(FOX Weather)
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE?
Torrential rain from Helene will bring “considerable” flash and urban flooding across the Southeast, according to the NHC, with totals of 4-8 inches and isolated amounts around 12 inches. Significant river flooding is also a risk.
The rainfall forecast for Hurricane Helene.
(FOX Weather)