Hurricane Helene is expected to increase in strength as it approaches Florida, bringing with it dangerous storm surges, flooding, and torrential rain.
The National Hurricane Center said Thursday morning that Helene is expected to move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and cross Florida’s Big Bend coast later in the evening or early Friday morning. Currently a Category 2 hurricane, Helene is expected to increase in power before it slams into Florida.
“Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening,” the National Hurricane Center announced. “Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene’s fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.”
After landfall, Helene is expected to go northwestward and head toward the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.
Authorities are warning Floridians about a “life-threatening storm surge” that “will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.”
In some areas of Florida, like from Carrabelle to Suwannee River, the surge could produce a wall of water 20 feet high. Other areas could get surges as high as 15 feet, while Tampa Bay is expected to see a surge of somewhere between 5-8 feet.
“Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions,” the National Hurricane Center said. “Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.”
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott warned Floridians on Wednesday that the storm surge could be deadly.
“In the Big Bend, they’re talking about possibly 18-foot of storm surge,” he said. “I’m a little over 6 feet — that’s three times my height. None of us are living that.”
“You’re not going to survive. I mean, you’re not going to live through this stuff,” he added.
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Helene is also predicted to bring heavy rainfall over portions of the Southeastern United States and the Southern Appalachians, with rain totals expected to be between six to 12 inches, with isolated areas getting around 18 inches.
“This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians,” the National Hurricane Center warned.
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, pointing people to get current guidance from Florida’s disaster management division.
“Florida is preparing for widespread impacts from Hurricane Helene,” DeSantis said. Wednesday. “Do not get wedded to the ‘cone,’ as hazards such as tornados, flooding, and storm surge can create dangerous conditions far beyond the cone.”
