Hurricane Helene to Florida’s Panhandle as Category 2 storm

Hurricane Helene is rapidly advancing across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, prompting warnings of an “unsurvivable” storm surge in the northwestern part of the state. Forecasters have also cautioned about damaging winds, heavy rains, and flash floods that could impact areas hundreds of miles inland throughout the southeastern U.S.

Upgraded to a Category 2 storm on Thursday morning, Helene is expected to reach major hurricane status—Category 3 or higher—by the time it makes landfall on Florida’s northwestern coast later in the evening. As of early Thursday, hurricane and flash flood warnings were in effect well beyond the coastline, extending into south-central Georgia. Governors in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia have declared states of emergency in preparation.

Rain began to fall early Thursday along coastal U.S. Highway 98, which runs through numerous fishing villages and vacation spots in Florida’s Big Bend region. Many gas stations along the route were boarded up to protect against the storm, and the highway was largely deserted, with most vehicles heading northeast toward higher ground.