Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida as catastrophic Category 4 storm

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday night as a dangerous Category 4 storm that will slam the sunshine state with torrential rainfall, potentially “unsurvivable” storm surge and life-threatening winds. The catastrophic storm – one of the largest ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico – strengthened to an “extremely dangerous ” Category 4 hurricane on Thursday with maximum-sustained winds of 140 mph impacting Florida’s Big Bend, according to the National Hurricane Center.The storm made landfall around 11:20 p.m., according to NOAA.

Experts have also warned that a large stretch of the Florida Panhandle could see “unsurvivable” storm surge of up to 20 feet.Helene will bring torrential rainfall – approximately 6 to 12 inches of rain – leading to potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding, to Florida and beyond, including two distinct areas of the rare level 4 of 4 excessive rainfall risk throughout the Southeast, weather officials said.A state of emergency has been declared in 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, and several in the storm’s path are under evacuation orders.Extreme wind damage is also expected up the Florida coast along I-95 into Tennessee, with widespread power outages likely.After making landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.Some additional strengthening is possible, according to the National Hurricane Center.The storm should weaken as it moves inland but the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to impale well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

Tornado warning were also issued throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.Helene will likely break “all the records we have” for the size of hurricanes modern era,” FOX Weather meteorologist Cody Braud told The Post.“We’re t...