Florida Orders Evacuations as Hurricane Helene Strengthens to Category 2
Florida officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders as Hurricane Helene intensifies in the Atlantic, posing a severe threat to the state’s Big Bend region. As of Thursday morning, the storm strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane and is expected to make landfall later in the evening, with destructive winds and storm surges predicted.
The National Weather Service (NWS) and local authorities have warned that Hurricane Helene could become catastrophic by the time it reaches Florida’s coast, with the potential to escalate to a Category 4 hurricane. The storm is forecast to make landfall south of Tallahassee, a region that hasn’t seen a hurricane of this magnitude in recent history. Officials are urging residents to evacuate immediately, as conditions will deteriorate rapidly.
“This forecast, if realized, is a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay,” the NWS in Tallahassee cautioned. The hurricane is expected to bring life-threatening storm surges of up to 20 feet in some areas, along with wind speeds over 100 mph. Rainfall could reach up to 18 inches, potentially leading to flash flooding.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the seriousness of the storm, describing it as “very large” and warning that it could bring tropical storm conditions across much of the state. “This area has not had a major hurricane hit in quite some time, and nobody in recent memory has seen a storm of this magnitude hit,” DeSantis said. Around 14 tornado warnings were issued overnight on Wednesday, with more expected as the storm approaches.
Hurricane Helene was located about 320 miles from Tampa as of 8:00 a.m. EST, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The NHC’s director, Michael Brennan, said that residents in evacuation zones still have time to leave but urged quick action. “Every minute that goes by brings us conditions that are simply going to be too dangerous to navigate,” Brennan warned.
In preparation for the storm, Tampa International Airport and Tallahassee International Airport were closed on Thursday, and search and rescue teams have been mobilized. Shelters have been opened in affected areas to assist those who cannot evacuate in time.
Schools in South Florida and Georgia have also closed, and the University of Florida has canceled classes and activities. The Republican candidate for vice president, JD Vance, canceled campaign events in Georgia due to the storm.
Earlier in its path, Hurricane Helene brushed Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, causing flooding but sparing major damage to Cancún’s tourist resorts. Now, with unusually warm Gulf waters fueling its strength, Helene poses a grave danger to Florida’s coastline as it moves closer to landfall.
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