Hurricane Helene live updates: Storm strengthens as it threatens Florida with storm surge, dangerous floods and winds
Hurricane Helene will likely strengthen to a Category 3 storm before making landfall in Florida on Thursday
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Storm Helene has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with 80 mph winds as it advances across Mexico’s coast towards the US.
Just over a month after Storm Debby hurtled into the Sunshine State, Hurricane Helene now threatens to become the strongest storm to hit the US in over a year as it is expected to make landfall near Florida’s Big Bend region on Thursday. If it does, Helene will be the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the US this year.
Hurricane Helene is expected to further strengthen into a Category 3 storm as it brings life-threatening rain, floods and storm surge to Florida.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, and several areas are under hurricane warnings. Florida’s Big Bend will see the worst of the storm surge, with up to 15 feet possible this week.
“Tornadoes are probable and high winds, life-threatening storm surge and flooding cannot be ruled out,” Florida’s emergency chief, Kevin Guthrie, said on Wednesday.
The storm’s center approached the Yucatán Peninsula Wednesday morning, churning between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
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
In pictures: Florida prepares for Storm Helene as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula
Life-threatening storm surge expected at Florida’s big bend
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