Hurricane Helene is getting more and more severe. People in Florida need to know that.

MIAMI – Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall on Florida's Big Bend coast as a major hurricane on Thursday, triggering a series of warnings and alerts across the state as meteorologists expect the storm to bring life-threatening conditions.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for all of South Florida and the Florida Keys. Helen is making its way north through the Gulf of Mexico before it is expected to make landfall on Thursday evening.

The storm will bring “catastrophic winds and storm surge to the northeast Gulf Coast,” the National Hurricane Center said early Thursday.

The storm was a Category 2 storm on Thursday morning and is expected to intensify as it approaches Florida's Gulf Coast.

“Helene will likely strengthen rapidly as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico,” said KC Sherman, meteorologist at NEXT Weather. “The environment will be characterized by low wind shear and warm ocean surface temperatures, allowing for rapid strengthening.”

According to the hurricane center, Helene is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 or possibly Category 4 storm. Regardless, it will be a dangerous top-tier hurricane.

A Hurricane warning is in effect from the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs to Mexico Beach in the state's panhandle. A hurricane warning is in effect from Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for the west coast of the state, from Flamingo in the Everglades to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, west of Mexico Beach to the Walton-Bay County line. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the east coast of the state, from Flamingo north to Little River Inlet.

“Helene will remain a very large and growing storm, with the wind field expected to span over 400 miles at its largest point,” Sherman said. “So it's important to remember that while the center is expected to make landfall along the Big Bend, significant impacts will be felt well beyond the center, along the entire west coast of Florida.”

The hurricane center's forecast cone shows Helene moving northward in the Panhandle on Thursday evening. Tallahassee is in the middle of the forecast. From there, it is expected to move into Alabama and Georgia.

“Dangerous” storm surge, risk of flooding

“Life-threatening storm surge will continue to pose a significant threat to Florida's Big Bend and the entire west coast of the country,” Sherman said.

According to the National Hurricane Center, storm surge on Florida's Gulf Coast near landfall could reach 15 to 20 feet. From Apalachicola to Carrabelle, it could be 10 to 15 feet. Tampa Bay and the area from the Anclote River to the middle of Longboat Key could see a storm surge of 5 to 8 feet. Charlotte Harbor and Naples could reach 3 to 5 feet.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Helene is expected to bring rainfall of between 15 and 30 centimeters in the southeastern United States and the southern Appalachians, with isolated rainfall amounts reaching around 46 centimeters.

“This rainfall is likely to cause catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash flooding and urban flooding, as well as significant river flooding,” the hurricane center said.

Tornadoes could also occur in parts of the Florida peninsula and southern Alabama, the hurricane center said.

“The risk for multiple tornadoes will gradually increase today into this evening,” it said. “The greatest danger is expected in parts of
Northern Florida to southeast Georgia, the Midlands and Low Country of South Carolina, and southern North Carolina.”

Weather forecast for South Florida

South Florida will not be in the direct path of the stormthe region will feel the effects.

The peripheral effects of the three-county area were already felt on Wednesday, when gusty tropical rainbands passed through.

Thursday afternoon will be very windy, with gusts up to 50 mph in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and up to 60 mph in the Keys.

Heavy rain will continue through Friday. Approximately 5 to 10 cm of rain is expected. There may be some locally heavier rainfall, particularly in areas where rainbands are “training” to move over the same area for an extended period of time.

Saltwater flooding from storm surges is only a threat in the Keys, where storm surges of 30 to 90 centimeters are possible at high tide through Thursday. A coastal flood warning has been issued for the Keys.

Cities and residents are preparing

Governor DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 61 of Florida's 67 counties. President Joe Biden approved Florida's emergency declaration and directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. The emergency declaration includes assistance and reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and shelter assistance.

Federal authorities have provided generators, food and water, along with Search and rescue teams.

DeSantis' order also activated the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to assist in the storm's aftermath. About 18,000 utility workers will be deployed to the scene to help restore power as soon as conditions safely allow.

The governor said on Wednesday that 12 health facilities had been evacuated and urged people to prepare immediately.

Several counties on Florida's west and northwest coasts have issued evacuation orders and schools are to be closed or have reduced opening hours.

In Tampa, an evacuation order was issued for the University of Tampa. Other universities are also affected, including the University of Florida, which canceled classes for Thursday.

Several cities in South Florida have acted proactively to help their citizens. The city of Hollywood is regulating water levels and has an emergency plan in place to divert excess water, and Miami is clearing sewers to prevent flooding.

“It's obvious that debris keeps falling in there, and that's what we're doing, clearing it away. And that's extremely important to allow the water to drain away and avoid these major floods that we've seen in the past,” said Kenia Fallat, Miami's communications director.

Additionally, free sandbags are being provided in select cities. Hollywood, Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, North Miami and North Miami Beach are offering free sandbags to residents.

Hollywood and Miami Beach also allow their residents to park in public parking garages for free if they are concerned about flooding.

All public schools in Broward and Monroe counties will be closed Thursday. Public schools in Miami-Dade will remain open.