Tropical Storm Helene live updates: Warnings issued as Florida braces for major hurricane strike
Helene is expected to be upgraded to a category 3 hurricane later today before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday
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Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly strengthening as it advances across Mexico’s coast towards the US, with the threat of powerful winds, floods and life-threatening storm surge causing thousands of Americans to evacuate Florida.
Just over a month after Storm Debby hurtled into the Sunshine State, Helene now threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year as it is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late on Thursday.
President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency on Tuesday.
Helene is now expected to be upgraded from a tropical storm to a category 3 hurricane later on Wednesday with wind speeds increasing dramatically from 40mph to 65mph in just over 24 hours, the National Hurricane Center announced on Wednesday morning.
The storm’s center approached the Yucatán Peninsula on Wednesday morning, lying between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Upper Florida Keys and Florida’s northeast coast, a tropical storm watch presides over parts of the South Carolina coast, and a flood watch has been issued to more than 20 million residents in Florida through the southern Appalachians, the NHC said.
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Blood donations requested ahead of Helene making landfall at Florida’s west coast
Blood donation charity OneBlood, that operates across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, has called for more donations in preparation of Tropical Storm Helene’s prospective landfall at the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Big Bend on Thursday.
O Negative, O Positive and platelet donations are particularly in demand, OneBlood said in a press release.
“Hurricanes and tropical systems can disrupt blood collections. The most critical time for blood donations is prior to the storm in order to ensure a ready blood supply during and immediately after the event,” the charity added.
Helene threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year, with winds potentially strengthening to up to 120mph by the time the storm hits the Florida Gulf Coast.
NASA and SpaceX Florida rocket launch delayed by days due to Helene
Schools announce closures across 51 of Florida’s 67 counties
The Florida Department of Education has announced that K-12 schools across 51 counties will be closed from either Wednesday, Thursday or both days in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene making landfall.
A further 17 college systems and eight universities have announced closures, as of Wednesday morning.
“The Florida Department of Education works closely with school districts before, during and after natural disasters to ensure they have the resources necessary to resume normal operations as quickly as possible,” the departmen wrote on its website.
“We will continue collaborating with district leadership to address questions as they arise. At this time, the Department is monitoring the storm.”
Evacuation orders issued across 20 Florida counties
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expanded a state of emergency declaration to 61 counties, while the state made evacuation orders effective in 20 counties ahead of Tropical Storm Helene making landfall.
According to the latest update from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, nine counties have been given mandatory orders to evacuate - including Wakulla County, Taylor County, Pinellas County, Manatee County, Hillsborough County, Gulf County, Franklin County, Citrus County and Charlotte County.
A further six counties - Baker County, Gadsden County, Jefferson County, Madison County, Suwannee County and Union County - have been issued voluntary orders to evacuate.
Dixie County, Hernando County, Levy County, Pasco County and Sarasota County have been issued information about a prospective evacuation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis places search and rescue crews on standby
Mapped: Wind speed, storm surge and flash flood threats ahead of Helene making landfall
Tracked: Where is Tropical Storm Helene now?
Tropical Storm Helene is expected to pass near the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula during the next several hours where it is anticipated to be upgraded to a hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center’s forecast on Wednesday morning.
Helene is epexcted to “rapidly intensify and grow in size” as it passes over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, it added.
With it, Helene may bring life-threatening storm surge across the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Big Bend. Hurricane-force winds could also pummel the Big Bend.
Hurricane warnings beamed out to Florida and Mexico residents
Tropical Storm Helene was rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and expected to become a hurricane Wednesday while moving north along Mexico's coast toward the US, prompting residents to evacuate, schools to close and officials to declare emergencies in Florida and Georgia.
The storm is forecast to be “near hurricane strength” when it passes near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula early Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said, and to “intensify and grow in size” as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico.
Find out more below:
Tropical Storm Helene strengthens as hurricane warnings cover parts of Florida and Mexico
Forecasters say they expect Tropical Storm Helene in the Caribbean Sea to strengthen rapidly and become a hurricane as it moves north across the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday toward the U.S. The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane warnings for northwestern Florida's coastline and part of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula
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