Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida as catastrophic Category 4 storm
SUMMARY
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday night as a catastrophic Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. The storm struck Florida’s Big Bend at 11:10 p.m., bringing life-threatening storm surges up to 20 feet and torrential rainfall expected to total 6 to 12 inches, leading to flash and urban flooding. A state of emergency was declared in 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, with mandatory evacuations ordered in several areas. Helene’s size is unusually large, with tropical storm-force winds extending far beyond typical distances. As it moves inland, strong winds and potential tornadoes are forecasted across the Southeast. Airports across Florida, including Tampa and Tallahassee, were closed, and over 3,500 National Guard soldiers were deployed. The storm is expected to weaken after hitting land, but damage will extend into Tennessee and the southern Appalachians.
