Hurricane Helene strengthens into a hurricane as it heads toward Mexico and Florida

News7f September 25, 2024

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Hurricane Helene strengthens into a hurricane as it heads toward Mexico and Florida

Getty Images Storm clouds in Cancun, Mexico

Tropical Storm Helene has strengthened into a hurricane and is expected to become a dangerous Category 3 storm before making landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday.

Forecasters warn the massive storm could bring “life-threatening” storm surge, strong winds and flooding to much of Florida and the southeastern United States.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Helene was expected to pass along Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán coast in the coming hours and make landfall in Florida late Thursday night local time.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for most counties in the state.

Tropical Storm Helene Track Map

Graphic showing the forecast track of Hurricane Helene. As of 4:00 a.m. local time Wednesday, the storm was off the coast of Mexico and heading north toward the United States. The storm is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane by 1:00 p.m. local time Thursday before making landfall in northern Florida later that day.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed the storm’s maximum sustained winds increased to nearly 80 mph (130 km/h).

At 12:00 GMT, Helene was moving northwest from a position east of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

Mexico’s meteorological agency said it could not rule out the possibility that the popular resorts of Cancún and Cozumel could be affected early Wednesday morning local time.

Red flags warning swimmers to stay out of the ocean were flying over Cancún beaches as early as Tuesday and fishermen rushed their small boats out of the water.

Some tourists ignored warnings not to swim.

Reuters A tourist swims as a red flag warns beachgoers of dangerous conditions as Hurricane Helene approaches the Yucatan Peninsula, in Cancun, Mexico on September 24. — Some tourists ignored warnings not to swim.

Local businesses had to board up their windows as the rain poured down and strong winds began to blow.

Heavy rainfall from Helene is also expected to affect western Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

When Helene makes landfall in the southeastern United States, the storm is expected to “bring total rainfall amounts of five to 10 inches” (12.7-25.4 centimeters), the NHC said.

Flood warnings have been issued from Florida to the southern Appalachians, with the hardest hit area expected to be Florida’s Big Bend region.

Big Bend is where Hurricane Idalia made landfall in 2023, and the area was also impacted by Hurricane Debby last month.

Florida Department of Emergency Management posted a list Counties have issued voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders ahead of Helene.