Florida is bracing for “unsurvivable” storm surge as Hurricane Helene is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 storm before making landfall later today.
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. It is expected to make landfall near Florida’s Big Bend region late on Thursday.
Hurricane Helene, currently a Category 1 storm, has 90mph winds as of Thursday morning, with sustained winds potentially building up to 135mph. Florida officials are warning residents to brace for life-threatening rain, floods and storm surge.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, and several areas remain under hurricane warnings. Florida’s Big Bend will see the worst of the storm surge, with up to 20ft possible this week.
On Wednesday, Florida Senator Rick Scott told residents that those in the path of the storm surge won’t survive.
“In the Big Bend, they’re talking about possibly 18ft of storm surge,” Scott said in Taylor County. “I’m a little over six feet — that’s three times my height. None of us are living that….You’re not going to survive.”
Ron DeSantis tells Floridians ‘time is running out’ to evacuate during Fox News interview
James Liddell26 September 2024 14:12
Watch live as Florida braces for ‘catastrophic’ Hurricane Helene
James Liddell26 September 2024 13:48
What are the different categories of hurricane?
There are five levels of hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale:
Category 1
A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when winds exceed 74mph. The hurricane will stay in this bracket until it reaches 96mph. The National Hurricane Center describes it as “very dangerous winds will produce some damage”.
Category 2
Category 2 hurricanes have sustained winds between 96mph and 110mph. The NHC described them as “extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage”.
Category 3
“Devastating damage will occur,” from the 111mph to 129mph winds, the NHC says.
Category 4
Helene may strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane the NHC says, which will mean “catastrophic damage will occur”. Sustained winds will be anywhere from 130mph to 156mph.
Category 5
Again, “catastrophic damage will occur,” during the strongest category of hurricane – which is wind speeds greater than 157mph. Framed homes in its path will likely be destroyed, the NHC says.
James Liddell26 September 2024 13:40
Florida’s Big Bend in direct path of Helene’s most catastrophic winds
James Liddell26 September 2024 13:20
Hurricane Helene strengthens to Category 2 storm
Hurricane Helene has now strengthened to a Category 2 storm as it continues to chart its path towards Florida.
The NHC warned that “significant additional strengthening” is expected before it makes landfall later today.
Rachel Sharp26 September 2024 13:15
Watch: How Floridians are prepare for Helene
James Liddell26 September 2024 13:00
Schools closed across all of Florida’s counties
K-12 schools across all 67 counties in Florida will be closed on Thursday, according to the latest update from the Florida Department of Education.
A further 25 colleges and 11 state universities will also close their doors in anticipation of Hurricane Helene making landfall.
“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,” reads a statement on the Florida Department of Education’s website.
James Liddell26 September 2024 12:40
Mapped: Which counties have been issued evacuation alerts?
James Liddell26 September 2024 12:20
Airports hunker down for Hurricane Helene
James Liddell26 September 2024 12:00