Hurricane Helene is gaining strength as it heads toward the US Gulf Coast, with forecasters warning it could intensify into a dangerous Category 4 storm before making landfall in Florida on Thursday evening. The storm, currently a Category 1 hurricane, poses a significant threat, with the potential for "life-threatening" storm surge, destructive winds, and widespread flooding across Florida and the southeastern US.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that Helene is moving north through the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strike Florida late Thursday. Governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia have all declared states of emergency in preparation.
According to the NHC, Helene's maximum sustained winds have reached 85 mph (140 km/h), and it is expected to strengthen significantly, possibly becoming a Category 4 hurricane by landfall. As of early Wednesday morning, the storm was located off the coast of Mexico and tracking northward at 12 mph (19 km/h).
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey urged residents to finalize preparations, warning, “We have no more time left to wait. Today is the day. Stay weather aware as we’re on the verge of what could be a historic event."
In Georgia, public schools in Atlanta will close Thursday and Friday due to the storm, and Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has canceled two campaign events in Georgia.
The NHC also cautioned that Helene could cause “catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding” throughout the southeastern US. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (12.7-25.4 cm) are expected, with the Big Bend region of Florida, already impacted by previous hurricanes, likely to be hardest hit.
Before reaching the US, Helene has already brought severe weather to parts of Cuba and the Cayman Islands, with 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) of rain expected. Heavy rain and winds also battered the Mexican resorts of Cancún and Cozumel, leading to flooding and the closure of beaches. Local businesses boarded up windows and red flags warned swimmers to avoid the rough seas.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has issued evacuation orders for several counties ahead of the storm’s arrival.
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