TAMPA, Fla. - Hurricane Helene is gaining strength and is expected to intensify quickly as it approaches Florida on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center has warned that the storm will bring "catastrophic" winds and storm surge to the northeastern Gulf coast.
According to FOX 13 meteorologists, Helene is forecast to reach Category 4 strength before making landfall in Florida's Big Bend area on Thursday night. Currently, it is moving over the warm waters of the Gulf as a Category 1 hurricane.
As of 5 a.m. on Thursday, Helene was located at 24.2 N and 86.2 W, with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour, moving north-northeast at 12 miles per hour.
Meteorologist Dave Osterberg from FOX 13 mentioned that Helene is one of the largest storms in the last two decades, covering hundreds of miles. He noted that while the core of the storm faced some challenges overnight, the pressure inside the storm continues to drop, indicating it is strengthening. However, rapid intensification is expected only when the core stabilizes.
Storm Watches and Warnings
A hurricane warning is in effect from Anclote River to Mexico Beach, covering coastal areas of Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties. The rest of the state, excluding the far western Panhandle, is under a tropical storm warning.
Additionally, a storm surge warning has been issued for much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. A flood watch remains in effect until Friday morning across the Bay Area and much of the state.
Flood warnings are in place for several rivers in the Bay Area:
- Alafia River at Riverview near U.S. 301: Major flooding expected from Thursday evening until Friday morning.
- Little Manatee River at Wimauma at U.S. 301: Minor flooding forecast from Friday afternoon onward.
- Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 64: Minor flooding expected from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening.
When Will the Bay Area Feel the Worst?
Rain bands have already begun moving through the Bay Area on Thursday morning. However, the strongest impacts, including significant rain, wind, and storm surge, will occur from 3 p.m. onward as the storm makes landfall, according to Osterberg.
“As the storm passes us, we’ll feel intense winds, and storm surge will become a major concern,” Osterberg explained.
Although Helene’s impact will lessen by Friday as the storm moves over land, tropical moisture will continue to bring showers throughout the weekend.
Helene's Potential Impact on the Bay Area
FOX 13 meteorologists warn that life-threatening storm surges will be the biggest threat, with water levels potentially reaching 15 feet along the coast from Citrus County to the Big Bend area. In some areas, storm surge could even reach up to 20 feet, posing "unsurvivable" risks.
Wind gusts along the coast will be strong on Thursday afternoon, with tropical storm-force winds expected across the state. Coastal gusts could reach 70 miles per hour, and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 345 miles from the center of Helene—an unusually wide span. For comparison, Hurricane Idalia in 2023 only extended about 135 miles.
Preparations in the Tampa Bay Area
Evacuation orders have been issued for several coastal and low-lying counties in the Bay Area. Many school districts have announced closures, and Tampa International Airport has suspended all commercial and cargo flights from 2 a.m. Thursday.
Several attractions, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, ZooTampa, the Florida Aquarium, and Clearwater Marine Aquarium, are closed for the day. Some government offices are also closing, and waste collection services may be disrupted in certain areas.
Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for nearly all Florida counties, with local states of emergency declared in several Bay Area counties. Power companies are preparing to respond to potential outages across the region.
Stay safe and keep an eye on the latest updates as Helene approaches.
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