ORLANDO – Helene has been upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane as it approaches Florida, with a predicted landfall of Thursday evening.
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The National Hurricane Center announced at 2:25 p.m. Thursday that the max sustained winds of Helene have increased to near 120 mph, which pushes the storm into the Category 3 range.
#BREAKING: Air Force Hurricane Hunter Aircraft finds that #Hurricane #Helene has strengthened yet again, as of 2:25 PM, now to a major hurricane, Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 120 MPH. The satellite imagery shows the intensification as we have a well defined system… pic.twitter.com/4DQFUHG5Rg
— Bryan Schuerman, M.A., M.Ed. (@BSchuermanWX) September 26, 2024
Helene is expected to continue strengthening before it makes landfall.
The hurricane is moving across the Gulf of Mexico, and experts said there could be a “catastrophic” storm surge in the northwestern parts of Florida.
Damaging winds, rain, and flash floods are possible hundreds of miles inland.
#HELENE UPDATE: The latest track from @NHC_Atlantic has Helene remaining a major hurricane, Category 3 up to landfall this evening in the Big Bend of Florida, right over Tallahassee as well. Although, this might need to change if additional strengthening occurs this afternoon..… pic.twitter.com/qPvC0cmdVq
— Bryan Schuerman, M.A., M.Ed. (@BSchuermanWX) September 26, 2024
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