Tight on time? This story is for you. It’s an abbreviated, text view at what’s happening with Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane before making landfall in Florida on Thursday, Sept. 26. Click here for more details.
Tropical Storm Helene expected to make landfall as major hurricane
Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become a major hurricane, with sustained winds of 120 mph before making landfall Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
AccuWeather forecasters are predicting the system could become a Category 4 storm in the Gulf of Mexico.
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Helene
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Watches, warnings issued for Florida
As of 5 a.m. watches and warnings issued include:
Hurricane warning:
Hurricane watch:
Storm surge warning:
Tropical storm warning:
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All of the Florida Keys
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The Florida west coast from Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay
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West of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County Line
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The Florida east coast from Flamingo northward to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River
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Lake Okeechobee
Will Tropical Storm Helene become a hurricane?
Yes. All predictions are that Tropical Storm Helene will rapidly intensify into a hurricane today, Sept. 25, as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.
Winds are predicted to hit 120 mph before landfall Thursday evening, making it a Category 3 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. AccuWeather forecasters predict Helene could become a Category 4 storm in the Gulf of Mexico, with sustained winds of 130-156 mph.
Where is Tropical Storm Helene expected to make landfall?
Landfall is expected along the northeast coast of the Gulf of Mexico late Thursday or Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The highest landfall probability is somewhere along the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle — perhaps in the Big Bend area — late Thursday evening, according to AccuWeather.
Will Tropical Storm Helene impact Florida?
Yes. Expected impacts include:
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Life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend.
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Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of coast of the Florida Big Bend,
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Considerable and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding is expected across portions of Florida.
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Rainfall could range from 5 to 10 inches, with isolated totals around 15 inches.
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Rough surf, with swells spreading north toward the west coast of Florida and the northeastern Gulf Coast later today and Thursday.
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A tornado or two may occur tonight over parts of the western Florida peninsula. The risk of tornadoes will increase on Thursday, expanding across Florida .
Don’t focus on the center of the storm. It’s extremely large, which means impacts will be felt hundreds of miles away, especially on the east side.
➤ For more details on impacts and timing on Florida impacts
Florida Gov. DeSantis expands state of emergency
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency on Monday afternoon for 41 of Florida’s 67 counties, including all of the Florida Panhandle.
Tuesday morning, he increased the number of counties to 61.
Counties under the state of emergency are: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
What should you do if you live in Florida?
➤ How to prepare for a hurricane
Finalize your hurricane preparations. If advised to evacuate, please do so before conditions deteriorate. Keep an eye on weather updates. Make sure you have a hurricane plan and supplies.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida hurricane: Impacts, timing, landfall, wind and storm surge
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