Tag Archives: strengthening
Hurricane Helene will make catastrophic Florida landfall; Tallahassee is near direct path
Hurricane Helene’s wide and destructive wind field was moving along the Gulf Coast of Florida southwest of Tampa on Thursday morning and is expected to rapidly intensify on a direct path for the state’s Big Bend region, where it could pose “a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay,” according to the National Weather Service. The state’s capital, Tallahassee, is just east of the direct path of Helene, which reached Category 2 strength Thursday and is expected to grow into a major Category 3 storm before making landfall late Thursday or early Friday morning. Forecasters said Helene will intensify further than previously forecast, predicting 130 mph winds before landfall. “This forecast, if realized, is a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay,” the National Weather Service office said. “Please, please, please take any evacuation orders seriously!” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:29
Live updates: Helene strengthening, now forecast to hit Florida as Category 4 hurricane
Helene became a hurricane late Wednesday morning and is rapidly strengthening. The storm is forecast to barrel into Florida’s Gulf Coast as a monster Category 4 hurricane with up to 132-mph winds Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Helene is expected to intensify and grow rapidly over the Gulf of Mexico before slamming into Florida’s Gulf Coast. According to AccuWeather forecasters, the highest landfall probability is “somewhere along the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle–perhaps in the Big Bend area–late Thursday evening.” However, an earlier landfall over the Florida Peninsula is possible if Helene tracks farther to the southeast, forecasters said. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of Florida and Florida’s Big Bend, the NHC reported. The highest inundation levels and potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected along the Big Bend coast. Video, lots of images, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:06 Stay safe!
