TALLAHASSEE – On Wednesday, Florida and much of the Southeastern United States were preparing for a powerful storm as Tropical Storm Helene intensified and moved toward the Big Bend coast.

The National Hurricane Center indicated that Helene is expected to turn into a hurricane on Wednesday and quickly escalate to a major hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. According to AccuWeather, Helene could reach Category 4 strength in the Gulf, featuring maximum sustained winds between 130 and 156 mph.

The most likely area for landfall is expected to be in the eastern Florida Panhandle — likely around the Big Bend area — by late Thursday evening, reported the forecasters. They predict rainfall amounts near the landfall area could range from 8-12 inches, with some isolated areas potentially receiving up to two feet of rain.

AccuWeather’s Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter described Helene as a “highly impactful storm.”

“This could be the storm that defines the 2024 hurricane season,” Porter remarked.

Latest Updates:

∎ The storm was reported to be located about 45 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, early Wednesday morning, as per the hurricane center. Helene was advancing northwest at a speed of 9 mph.

∎ Isolated tornadoes may occur on Thursday, with tropical storm winds and flooding expected. The Weather Service has warned of “at least moderate tidal flooding Thursday and into Friday.”

DeSantis advises Floridians to ready for Helene

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to prepare for the impact of a potential major hurricane after he extended the state of emergency to 61 counties.

“You still have time, so utilize it wisely,” DeSantis remarked. “Review your emergency plan and ensure you’re ready to implement your hurricane preparedness strategy.”

“Don’t rely solely on the forecast cones; you could be outside the cone and still experience significant effects.”

Evacuation orders issued in Florida counties ahead of Helene

Three counties along Florida’s Big Bend coast, where storm surge could hit 15 feet, have implemented mandatory evacuation orders for all residents and visitors. Officials in Wakulla, Franklin, and Taylor counties, which have a combined population of around 69,000, cautioned residents about the storm’s danger and urged them to take it seriously.

“Hurricane Helene is anticipated to be a catastrophic and life-threatening storm system,” the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office shared on social media. “This storm will be unprecedented. A curfew will be in effect from sunset to sunrise. This is a MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER for all.”

Additionally, 17 other counties from the Panhandle to just south of Sarasota have announced either mandatory or voluntary evacuations, as per the Florida Division of Emergency Management. State officials have also announced the closure of government offices, public schools, and several major universities.

Helene impacts Gulf oil operations

U.S. oil producers began evacuating personnel from oil production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday as they anticipated the second hurricane in a fortnight would disrupt offshore oil production.

Companies including BP, Chevron, and Shell have initiated evacuations of offshore personnel, and several have halted some production activities. Just two weeks earlier, Hurricane Francine struck the Gulf of Mexico, reaching Category 2 with 100-mph winds when it made landfall in Louisiana.

Helene anticipated to be Florida’s 9th major hurricane since 2000

The National Hurricane Center forecasts that Helene will become a major hurricane, classified as a Category 3, before it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.

Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University, noted that since 2000, Florida has experienced eight major hurricanes: Charley and Jeanne in 2004; Dennis and Wilma in 2005; Irma in 2017; Michael in 2018; Ian in 2022; and Idalia in 2023.

Contributions from: Steve Patterson, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union; Kim Luciani YSL News NETWORK – Florida; Reuters