Hurricane Helene strengthened on Wednesday as it moved across the Gulf of Mexico, with forecasters warning that the storm will continue to intensify on its path toward Florida.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Helene was approximately 500 miles (810 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, Florida, with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) as of Wednesday.
The storm is expected to become a major hurricane before making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region along the northwestern coast, potentially as early as late Thursday.
Read: Mandatory Evacuations Ordered In Pinellas County As Tropical Storm Helene Strengthens
Governor DeSantis Issues Warning
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to finalize preparations ahead of the storm, warning that Hurricane Helene could make landfall anywhere from a Category 1 to Category 4 hurricane in the next day or two.
“The models vary on how intense this could be, but there’s clearly a pathway for this to rapidly intensify prior to making landfall,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Tampa. He emphasized that coastal communities must heed evacuation orders but noted that residents don’t need to travel far. “You don’t need to drive hundreds of miles away from your home,” DeSantis added. “Just find higher ground, whether it’s a shelter, hotel, or a friend’s house.”
Read: Florida Gov. DeSantis Expands State Of Emergency To 61 Counties Ahead Of Hurricane Helene
As of early Wednesday, 61 out of Florida’s 67 counties were under a state of emergency, with three additional counties under a watch or warning. Landfall is expected Thursday evening in northern Florida.
Storm Surge and Heavy Rainfall Expected
Helene initially developed into a tropical storm on Tuesday in the western Caribbean Sea, causing flooding in the Cayman Islands. Now, forecasters are predicting heavy rainfall across the southeastern U.S. starting Wednesday, with life-threatening storm surges expected along Florida’s entire west coast.
Kevin Guthrie, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, warned that the impacts of the storm may be felt up to 250 miles (402 kilometers) from the center. Some outer bands of the storm had already reached the Florida Keys by Wednesday morning.
With Helene poised to intensify rapidly, officials continue to urge residents to take immediate precautions.
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