U.S. "Gargantuan" Hurricane Helene Threatens Florida's Gulf Coast with "Catastrophic and Deadly Storm Surge"

Hurricane Helene continues to intensify as it moves through the eastern Gulf of Mexico, aiming for a Thursday evening or early Friday morning landfall along Florida’s Big Bend Coast. The National Hurricane Center warned early Thursday that Helene is expected to bring "catastrophic winds and storm surge" to the northeastern Gulf Coast. "Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the center urged.

The National Weather Service echoed the warning on X (formerly Twitter), stating that parts of Florida’s Big Bend could experience a "catastrophic and deadly storm surge," with water potentially rising 20 feet above ground level, accompanied by destructive waves. Other parts of Florida’s west coast also face life-threatening surge risks, and residents have been urged to follow local evacuation orders.

Helene, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph as of Thursday, is currently a Category 1 hurricane but is expected to strengthen. Winds of 96-110 mph would elevate it to a Category 2, while 111-129 mph winds would make it a Category 3, classifying Helene as a major hurricane. The Hurricane Center expects Helene to become a major hurricane by the time it reaches Florida’s Big Bend.

After making landfall, Helene is forecast to turn northwest and slow over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. While weakening is expected post-landfall, Helene’s rapid forward motion will still bring strong, damaging winds inland, especially in gusts, affecting the southeastern U.S., including the southern Appalachians.

Heavy rainfall will also pose a significant threat. "Over parts of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated areas receiving up to 18 inches," according to the Hurricane Center. This could lead to "catastrophic" flash flooding, urban flooding, and significant river flooding. Landslides are likely in steep terrains.

David Parkinson, CBS News senior weather and climate producer, called Helene a "gargantuan" storm, with hurricane-force winds extending 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds reaching as far as 345 miles. According to Parkinson, by Thursday afternoon, 60 of Florida’s 67 counties could experience wind gusts above tropical storm force (39 mph), with the western Panhandle being an exception.

In Category 3 storms, even well-built homes in coastal areas may suffer major roof damage. Widespread tree damage, road blockages, and prolonged electricity and water outages are also anticipated. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that thousands of workers are on standby to restore power once the storm passes, urging residents to make final preparations immediately.

In the Big Bend region, south of Tallahassee, storm surges could reach 15-20 feet if they coincide with high tide, enough to submerge a two-story house, Parkinson noted. Other areas could see surges of 3-15 feet.

"The most dangerous aspect of the storm will likely be the water," warned Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, during an interview with CBS News.

President Biden and Governor DeSantis both declared states of emergency earlier in the week, and evacuation orders have been issued across several counties. At the University of Tampa, residential students were being evacuated by Wednesday afternoon.

DeSantis cautioned against long-distance evacuations, encouraging residents to move to higher ground locally rather than traveling far from home, as Helene is expected to track inland after landfall. Emergency declarations have also been issued in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and even as far north as Virginia.

Florida Braces for Impact

Residents along Florida’s west coast are preparing for Helene by boarding up windows, fueling vehicles, and filling sandbags. In Tallahassee, Dorothy Richardson is hunkering down with her grandchildren. "I need to prepare, no matter what happens," she said while gathering sandbags and other supplies.

In Mexico Beach, Russell King, whose home was damaged by Hurricane Michael in 2018, is preparing to evacuate. "We lost a lot last time, and with winds possibly reaching 125 mph, we just don’t know how much we’ll lose again," King remarked.

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey voiced concerns about the storm’s unprecedented intensity. "This could be a direct hit like we’ve never seen before in Tallahassee," he said, noting the city has doubled its workforce with crews from other states ready to assist in power restoration.

In Tampa, officials have installed a temporary wall around Tampa General Hospital to guard against the expected 5-8 feet of storm surge. A similar barrier held back 2 ½ feet of water last year when Hurricane Idalia hit.

Gulf Waters Fueling Helene’s Strength

Warm water in the Gulf of Mexico is fueling Helene’s intensification. Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami, noted that ocean heat content in the Gulf is at record levels, providing "jet fuel" for the storm. Sea surface temperatures along Helene’s path are as high as 89°F, 2-4°F above normal, conditions made more likely by human-driven climate change.

With Helene approaching, Florida residents are racing against the clock to finish preparations before the storm’s potentially catastrophic landfall.