Helene is currently positioned near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later on Wednesday. The storm is forecast to make landfall in Florida on Thursday night, though its impacts will begin well before then. Florida is bracing for life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rain. Strong winds, heavy rainfall, and a potential tornado threat will also extend into parts of the Southeast by Friday.
As of now, Helene is located northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, moving in a northwestern direction with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm’s rain is already drenching areas of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba. Some rain bands have even reached as far as South Florida.
Several watches and warnings have been issued. A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's Big Bend region extending into southwest Georgia, including Tallahassee. Storm surge warnings cover the area from Indian Pass south to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Various other tropical storm warnings, watches, and hurricane watches are in place across much of Florida, southern Georgia, and southern South Carolina.
These warnings indicate that hurricane, tropical storm, and storm surge conditions are either expected (warnings) or possible (watches) within the next 36 to 48 hours. Residents in affected areas should follow their hurricane plans and listen to local emergency managers for guidance.
Wednesday: Helene will make its closest approach to Cancún and Cozumel, bringing high winds, storm surge, and heavy rain to those areas, as well as parts of western Cuba. The storm will then move into the southern Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to strengthen. Some rainbands and high surf will reach Florida, and moisture from the storm may also cause flooding rain in parts of the Tennessee Valley from Georgia into eastern Tennessee.
Thursday: Helene is projected to reach peak intensity in the eastern Gulf of Mexico before making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a large, major hurricane on Thursday night. Although forecast models predict landfall in Florida’s Big Bend or eastern Panhandle region, hurricane effects—such as storm surge, winds, and rain—can extend far from the storm’s center, especially in larger storms like Helene.
Friday: The storm will move rapidly northward through the Southeast, bringing strong, possibly damaging winds, flooding rains, and the risk of isolated tornadoes as it approaches the southern Appalachians and Ohio Valley.
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