John Jefferson
Hurricane Helene could strengthen to a Category 4 storm as it advances toward Florida, AccuWeather forecasts.
Just over a month after Storm Debby hurtled into the Sunshine State, Hurricane Helene now threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year. The storm is expected to make landfall near Florida’s Big Bend region on Thursday.
Helene will be the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the US this year.
Hurricane Helene, currently a Category 1 storm, has 80 mph winds as of Wednesday. Florida officials are warning residents to brace for life-threatening rain, floods and storm surge.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, and several areas are under hurricane warnings. Florida’s Big Bend will see the worst of the storm surge, with up to 20 feet possible this week.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey told residents the storm could bring “unprecedented damage” to the Florida city.
“We will have countless downed trees. We will have structural damage. We will have loss of power,” Dailey said on Wednesday. “Yes, if our community res central in Helene’s path as forecasted, we will see unprecedented damage like nothing we have ever experienced before.”
Mapped: Hurricane Helene flash flood risk
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State emergency chief warns residents of Helene’s impact
Florida’s emergency chief, Kevin Guthrie, warned the effects of Helene will be far-reaching and residents should be careful even if they think they’re far from the storm.
“Tropical storm force winds can be filled up to 250 miles from the center,” Guthrie explained at a Wednesday morning press conference
“Tornadoes are probable and high winds, life-threatening storm surge and flooding cannot be ruled out,” he added.
Guthrie urged residents to keep their devices on to receive emergency alerts and to have an evacuation plan in place.
Katie Hawkinson26 September 2024 08:00
Helene to hit Florida two years after devastating Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Helene, which is expected to strengthen to Category 4, will batter Florida two years after Hurricane Ian.
Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida, in September 2022. Meanwhile, Helene is set to make landfall slightly north, near Florida’s Big Bend region.
Hurricane Ian is the costliest to ever hit Florida and the third-costliest in US history.
The agency also allocated $2.3 billion to reimburse state, local and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations for storm-related costs.
Hurricane Helene is set to cause ‘unprecedented’ damage to parts of the state.
“We will have countless downed trees. We will have structural damage. We will have loss of power,” Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said on Wednesday. “Yes, if our community res central in Helene’s path as forecasted, we will see unprecedented damage like nothing we have ever experienced before.”
Katie Hawkinson26 September 2024 07:00
Mapped: Hurricane Helene rainfall
Katie Hawkinson26 September 2024 06:00
ICYMI: Hurricane Helene could render parts of Tallahassee ‘uninhabitable’ for months
“Catastrophic” storm surge and flooding could render some areas of Tallahassee and the surrounding region “uninhabitable” for weeks or months, the National Weather Service said.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey told residents that Hurricane Helene could bring “unprecedented damage” to the Florida city if it res on its current path.
“We will have countless downed trees. We will have structural damage. We will have loss of power,” Dailey said on Wednesday. “Yes, if our community res central in Helene’s path as forecasted, we will see unprecedented damage like nothing we have ever experienced before.”
The storm could strengthen to a Category 4 as it makes landfall in Florida late Thursday.
Katie Hawkinson26 September 2024 05:01
Key messages from officials ahead of Hurricane Helene
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Satellite: Sun rises on Hurricane Helene
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Video: Helene batters Cancún on path to Florida
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ICYMI: NASA and SpaceX Florida rocket launch delayed by days due to Helene
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