Tropical Storm Helene on track to become major hurricane as it approaches Florida

Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly organizing Wednesday and is expected to become a major hurricane as it approaches Florida while residents rush to finish preparing for a potentially deadly storm surge, destructive hurricane-force winds and flooding rain.The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said there is danger of a life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Big Bend. As the storm comes ashore late Thursday, the Big Bend area is expected to experience the highest water levels – as much as 15 feet above dry land. Tampa Bay could see 5-8 feet of storm surge inundation under current forecasts.Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for swaths of Florida’s Gulf Coast, from the Panhandle, across the Big Bend and into Southwest Florida.Florida Gov.

Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Tuesday declaring a state of emergency for 61 of the state’s 67 counties to help agencies prepare for the incoming storm.According to the NHC’s Wednesday morning update, Helene’s maximum sustained winds have ramped up to at least 70 mph with higher gusts.The system is moving northwest, and that general motion is expected through Wednesday morning.

It will be followed by a turn to the north starting later Wednesday.Helene is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane, meaning winds of at least 111 mph, as it moves over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaches the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday.The current 120-mph peak intensity forecast would rate the storm a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.A Hurricane Warning has been issued from Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida, where damaging hurricane-force winds are expected later Thursday.

The NHC is urging those in the warning areas to complete any preparations by early Thursday morning.Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for all the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas and the west coast of Florida from Flamingo to Anclote River, including...