Meteorologists are sounding the alarm as Florida braces for what could be the most powerful hurricane of the 2024 season.
Experts warn that Hurricane Helene may go down in history as the storm to remember this year. After forming near the Yucatán Peninsula on Wednesday, Helene rapidly gained hurricane status.
But this is just the beginning of what forecasters predict will be a dramatic and dangerous weather event, as the storm intensifies over the exceptionally warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
‘Largest Storm in the Golf since a century’
Helene is on track to become the largest hurricane in the Gulf in nearly a century, according to meteorologist Michael Lowry. As a result, tropical storm and hurricane warnings have been issued for nearly the entire state of Florida.
The storm is expected to reach Category 4, with winds of up to 155 mph before making landfall, most likely in the Big Bend region.
One of the most feared threats from Helene is the catastrophic storm surge, which could reach as high as 16 feet in some areas. This has raised concerns of widespread flooding, particularly in Tampa Bay, where a storm surge of 8 feet is predicted, posing a severe risk to the low-lying and heavily populated region.
DeSantis declares state of emergency
In response to the looming threat, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency across nearly all counties in the state. More than three million residents are currently living in areas under hurricane warnings, and the Florida National Guard has mobilized 3,000 soldiers to assist with the crisis.
Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate, as authorities urge people to move inland and seek shelter from the potentially deadly storm.
With Helene expected to bring life-threatening winds, flooding, and storm surges, officials are urging Floridians to prepare for what could be a historic natural disaster.
Emergency services are on high alert, and evacuation efforts are underway as the state braces for impact.
