Expand / Collapse search
☰
Live Now

Live updates: Hurricane Helene an 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 storm on track to Florida

By
Published  September 26, 2024 7:15pm EDT
News
FOX 35 Orlando

Stream FOX 35 News

Hurricane Helene is now an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane, as it moves up Florida's Gulf Coast towards the state's Big Bend region.

It's expected to make landfall Thursday night somewhere over Florida's Big Bend region, though officials have said nearly the entire state will experience dangerous, life-threatening impacts, including "catastrophic" storm surge, dangerous winds, heavy rain, and an increased risk of tornadoes.

In a surprise 6:20 p.m. advisory, the National Hurricane Center said NOAA Hurricane Hunters found that Helene had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, making it an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane.

Watch Hurricane Helene live cameras as storm nears Florida landfall

In its 5 p.m. update, Helene had sustained winds of 125 mph, making it a Cat. 3 hurricane and 5 mph shy of being a Cat. 4 at the time.

Satellite view of Hurricane Helene as it moves along Florida's Gulf Coast.

Storm watches and warnings

Nearly all of Florida's 67 counties – aside from a handful – are under some sort of tropical advisory, watch, or warning. Those warnings even extend to parts of eastern Alabama, nearly all of Georgia, and parts of South Carolina.

Much of north, north-central, and north-western Florida are under a tornado watch throughout the night, as Helene barrels towards the Big Bend area.

When will the worst impacts from Hurricane Helene be felt in Central Florida?

Central Florida – Orlando and the surrounding cities – began to feel the impacts of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday. The weather will rapidly deteriorate on Thursday afternoon, including tropical storm-force winds, wind gusts, heavy rain, and the potential for tornado warnings.

Preparing for Hurricane Helene in Central Florida

Hurricane Helene: County-by-county guide to shelters, emergency resources, shelters

Several Florida schools closed ahead of Hurricane Helene. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay made operational changes ahead of the storm.

Orlando International Airport and Sanford Orlando International Airport remain open, though some airlines have delayed or canceled some flights. Tampa International Airport closed at 2 a.m. Thursday ahead of Helene, and will not reopen until it completes a damage assessment after Helene passes through.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for several counties ahead of Helene. The White House approved a pre-landfall emergency declaration for Florida.

Stay connected with FOX 35 Orlando