Live updates: Hurricane Helene expected to make landfall in Florida as a ‘catastrophic’ Category 4 storm

TAMPA, Florida. – Hurricane Helene is gaining strength and is expected to rapidly intensify as it approaches Florida on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center says the storm will bring “catastrophic” winds and storm surge to the northeast Gulf Coast.

FOX 13 meteorologists predict Helene will reach Category 4 before making landfall in Florida's Big Bend area Thursday evening. As a Category 1 hurricane, it will continue to move over the warm waters of the Gulf.

At 5 a.m. Thursday, Helene was located at 24.2 N and 86.2 W, had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and was moving north-northeast at 12 mph.

According to Dave Osterberg, meteorologist at FOX 13, Helene is one of the most severe storms in the last 20 years and is hundreds of miles wide.

Osterberg said Helene's core “struggled a little overnight,” but pressure inside the storm continued to drop, a sign of strengthening. However, intensification will not happen quickly until the core solidifies.

Storm warnings and observations

A hurricane warning is in effect from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach. This includes coastal areas of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.

A tropical storm warning was issued for the rest of the state, except for the far western Panhandle.

A storm surge warning is in effect for large parts of Florida's Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

A flood warning is in effect for the entire Bay Area and much of the state until Friday morning.

A flood warning has been issued for the following rivers in the Bay Area:

• The Alafia River at Riverview near US 301 is affecting Hillsborough County Thursday evening into Friday morning. Severe flooding is forecast.
• Little Manatee River near Wimauma on US 301 in Hillsborough County Friday afternoon until further notice. Minor flooding is forecast.
• Manatee River near Myakka Head off SR 64 in Manatee County Friday afternoon through Saturday evening. Minor flooding is forecast.

READ: Your guide to the 2024 hurricane season

When will the worst effects be felt in the Bay Area?

While some rainbands will move through the Bay Area Thursday morning, the heaviest impacts of Helene – including heavy rain, winds and storm surge – will be felt across the region from about 3 p.m. until after the storm makes landfall, Osterberg said.

“When the storm passes us, the wind will really hit us,” said Osterberg. “And then the storm surge will also be a big problem.”

The storm's impacts will diminish by Friday after Helene makes landfall in our northwest and moves over land, but Osterberg said tropical moisture will continue to bring passing showers through the weekend.

Helene's possible impact in the Bay Area

FOX 13 meteorologists expect a life-threatening storm surge to be the biggest problem, reaching heights of up to 15 feet along the coast from Citrus County north to the Big Bend and reaching “insurmountable” levels of up to 20 feet.

Storm surge height varies depending on where you live. Check out the graphics below to see the forecast storm surge for each area of ​​Tampa Bay:

Strong wind gusts will be experienced along the coast Thursday afternoon, with tropical storm force winds spreading across the state. Winds will be a problem throughout the evening, especially near the coast where gusts may reach speeds in excess of 70 mph.

Tropical storm-force winds extend about 345 miles from the center of Helene, which Osterberg calls “unheard of.” For comparison, Hurricane Idalia produced tropical storm-force winds about 135 miles from its center in 2023.

Significant rainfall is also expected in the Bay Area, ranging from 12 to 25 centimeters along the coast and 5 to 10 centimeters inland.

Preparations in the Tampa Bay Area for Helene

Hurricane Helene: County Guide

Evacuation orders have been issued in several Bay Area counties, primarily for coastal and lowland areas.

School closures have been announced in many districts.

Tampa International Airport has suspended all commercial and cargo flights effective Thursday at 2 a.m.

Attractions closed Thursday include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, ZooTampa, the Florida Aquarium and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Some government offices will be closed in the coming days. In certain areas, there will be restrictions on garbage collection, recycling and garden waste disposal.

Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in almost all Florida counties, while some Bay Area counties have declared local emergencies.

Utilities are stationed in the Tampa Bay area and other parts of the state to respond to power outages.

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