Hurricane Helene is coming

Florida residents are bracing themselves for the impact of Helene, which is forecast to strengthen into a powerful hurricane.

Currently moving through the Caribbean, Helene is expected to hit Florida in the coming days.

Tropical Storm Helene forms in the Caribbean just days before a potentially devastating strike on Florida as a major hurricanehttps://t.co/MqiIRqmBjN

— CNN (@CNN) September 24, 2024

Experts believe, based on their observations of Tropical Storm Helene, that the system has become more organized, with thunderstorms becoming more concentrated near the center, making Helene likely to intensify rapidly and significantly.

Helene is expected to hit several areas of the Caribbean, including Cancun in Mexico and western Cuba. The storm will reach its maximum intensity on Thursday, when it arrives in the Big Bend region of northern Florida.

Forecasts indicate that Helene could strengthen into a major hurricane as it enters the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, potentially reaching Category 3, before making landfall in Florida on Thursday.

9/24 11AM EDT: There is risk of life-threatening storm surge from Tropical Storm #Helene for the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Florida west coast, where a Storm Surge Watch is in effect. Residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials. pic.twitter.com/MdClvhsA69

— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 24, 2024

The storm will reach its maximum intensity on Thursday when it arrives in the Big Bend region of northern Florida. According to computer models, it is expected to bring dangerous storm surges and flooding over a wide area.

Residents of several affected areas are under imminent evacuation orders in anticipation of the storm.

Residents of the southeastern U.S., including Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky, will be affected by the system, with heavy rains and powerful winds that could persist for several days.