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.
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?
Hurricane Helene is currently located near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
What is the forecast track for Hurricane Helene?
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?
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.
FOX Weather
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 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.
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.