Tropical Storm Helene has intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as of Wednesday morning, with sustained winds reaching 80 mph (128 km/h), according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Currently located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatán Peninsula, Helene is expected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast by Thursday, posing significant danger to the region.
The storm is predicted to become a Category 3 hurricane before landfall, with life-threatening storm surges likely along much of Florida’s coastline. The NHC warned that Helene could be one of the most powerful storms to strike the US in over a year.
Florida braces for Hurricane Helene as evacuation orders and emergency declarations sweep the state.Over 40 million people across Florida, Georgia, and Alabama are under hurricane and tropical storm warnings. Florida has already started evacuating residents in Sarasota, Charlotte, and other coastal counties.
Schools in several regions, including Hillsborough and Pinellas, have closed as a precaution.
Helene’s impact will be extensive, with wind fields and rain bands stretching more than 140 miles from its center. It could potentially affect areas as far as eastern Florida and Cuba. Projections show the storm moving across the Gulf, with Tallahassee in its direct path.
President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency for Florida, deploying federal resources in preparation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expanded a state of emergency to 61 counties and activated National Guard units. He urged residents to take evacuation orders seriously, warning that storm surges could be devastating.
As Helene strengthens, Gulf water temperatures of 90°F (32°C) fuel its power, contributing to its rapid intensification. The storm is expected to make landfall late Thursday or early Friday, becoming the fourth hurricane to hit the US this year.