Watch live weather cameras, storm chasers and beach cams as Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida
Hurricane Helene is gaining strength and is expected to rapidly intensify as it approaches Florida on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center says the storm will bring “catastrophic” winds and storm surge to the northeastern Gulf coast.
FOX 13 Meteorologists say Helene is forecast to reach at least Category 3 strength before it makes landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area Thursday night. It continues to move across warm Gulf waters as a Category 2 hurricane.
Hurricane Helene moves closer to Florida
FOX 13 meteorologists Jim Weber and Valerie Mills have the very latest on Hurricane Helene.
As of 11 a.m. on Thursday, Helene was located at 25.5 N and 85.5 W, had maximum sustained winds of 105 miles an hour and was moving north-northeast at 14 miles an hour.
FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg said Helene is among the largest storms in the past 20 years, stretching hundreds of miles wide.
Osterberg said Helene’s core “had a little bit of a struggle overnight,” but pressure continued to drop inside the storm, which is a sign of strengthening. Intensification has become more rapid throughout the morning.
Storm watches and warnings
A hurricane warning is in effect from Anclote River to Mexico Beach. That includes coastal areas of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for the rest of the state except the far western Panhandle.
A storm surge warning is in effect for much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
All Bay Area counties are under a tornado watch until 8 p.m.
A flood watch is in effect until Friday morning across the Bay Area and much of the state.
A flood warning has been issued for the following rivers in the Bay Area:
Alafia River at Riverview near U.S. 301 affecting Hillsborough County from Thursday evening until Friday morning. Major flooding is forecast.
Little Manatee River at Wimauma at U.S. 301 in Hillsborough County from Friday afternoon until further notice. Minor flooding is forecast.
Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 64 in Manatee County from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening. Minor flooding is forecast.
READ: Your guide to hurricane season 2024
When will the worst impacts be felt in the Bay Area?
While some rain bands are moving through the Bay Area on Thursday morning, the strongest impacts from Helene – including significant rain, wind and storm surge – will be felt across the region from around 3 p.m. until after the storm makes landfall, according to Osterberg.
“As the storm passes us, we’re really going to get that wind to whip in,” Osterberg said. “And that’s when the storm surge, as well, is going to be a huge issue.”
Storm impacts will lessen heading into Friday after Helene makes landfall to our northwest and moves over land, but Osterberg said tropical moisture will continue to bring passing showers through the weekend.
Helene’s potential impacts in the Bay Area
FOX 13 Meteorologists say life-threatening storm surge is expected to be the biggest issue, with the potential to reach 15 feet along the coast from Citrus County northward into the Big Bend, where storm surge could reach “unsurvivable” levels up to 20 feet.
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