Hurricane Helene live updates: Track storm path as Florida braces for landfall amid fears of catastrophic damage to homes and businesses

By: dailymail Posted On: September 26, 2024 View: 133

Published: 05:00 EDT, 26 September 2024 | Updated: 05:00 EDT, 26 September 2024

Hurricane Helene is braced to make landfall in Florida today threatening to bring catastrophic damage to homes in the Sunshine State. The Category 4 storm is approaching the US coastline with wind speeds of up to 130mph after spending days strengthening in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm is expected to make landfall on Florida's northwestern coast Thursday evening and as of early morning, hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia.

Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of Helene's arrival with state officials warning the impact on residents and businesses could be 'unprecedented', while the National Weather Service in Tallahassee forecast storm surges of up to 20 feet and warned they could be particularly 'catastrophic and life-threatening' in Florida's Apalachee Bay. It added that high winds and heavy rains also posed risks.

Follow our live blog below below for the latest updates:

Hurricane Helene is set to strike Florida's Gulf Coast within hours, threatening an 'unsurvivable' storm surge that would leave catastrophic damage and could deluge cities and swallow homes.

Helene could roar ashore as a Category 4 hurricane by tonight, with wind speeds of up to 130mph after spending days strengthening in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center warned.

Forecasters predict Helene could bring storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and warned they could be particularly 'catastrophic and life-threatening' in Florida's Apalachee Bay. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm's arrival.

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Good morning

A sign displays a hurricane warning along a roadside as preparations are made for the arrival of Hurricane Helene, in Cedar Key, Florida on September 25, 2024. Thousands of residents on Wednesday began evacuating parts of coastal Florida as the US state braces for Hurricane Helene, forecast to barrel ashore as a powerful, potentially deadly storm. Helene strengthened into a hurricane mid-morning in the Gulf of Mexico and is

Hello and welcome to DailyMail.com's live coverage of Hurricane Helene as it fast approaches Florida.

The National Hurricane Center warned Helene is likely to reach Category 4 when it makes landfall after strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico.

Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm's arrival as forecasters predict storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters).

State officials say the damage could be unprecedented and catastrophic with residents scrambling to reach higher ground.

Stick with our coverage as we track Helene's movements and bring you the latest developments on the ground in Flordia.