The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported Thursday that fast-moving Hurricane Helene is on course to hit northwestern Florida, where it is predicted to bring "damaging hurricane winds and catastrophic storm surge," as high as 6 meters above ground level in some areas.
Helene has strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane and "will likely be an extremely dangerous ... at landfall," the NHC said. Landfall is expected Thursday evening in Florida's Big Bend area, according to the NHC.
Florida's Big Bend is nestled in the curve of Florida's peninsula around the Gulf of Mexico and Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie and Levy counties, and is the location of some of Florida's most significant wilderness destinations, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In the NHC's latest report, Helene is about 205 kilometers west of Tampa and 280 kilometers south of Tallahassee with maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour.
This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Helene advancing across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, Sept. 26, 2024.
The hurricane is forecast to be a large system when it reaches the Florida coast, and forecasters said the impact of storm surge, wind and rainfall will extend well away from the center of the storm, particularly to the east. Hurricane warnings are in effect for southern Georgia as well as most of northern Florida, and tropical storm warnings extend into the Carolinas.
Catastrophic and life-threatening flash floods and urban flooding are predicted and landslides are possible in higher elevations of rural areas.
Governor mobilizes National Guard
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for nearly all of Florida's 67 counties, including Miami-Dade. He has mobilized the National Guard and positioned thousands of personnel to prepare for possible search and rescue operations and power restoration.
In a statement, The White House said President Joe Biden was briefed on the storm Wednesday, and his administration stands ready to provide further assistance to Florida and other states in Helene’s path.
Ninth named storm forms
Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record-warm ocean temperatures.
The Atlantic's ninth named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Isaac, formed Wednesday night in the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane center reported it was expected to strengthen as it moves eastward, possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week.
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.