September 25, 10 a.m.
Helene becomes a hurricane. Helene has been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with 80 mph max sustained winds as it makes its way into the southeastern Gulf. Helene is expected to intensify into a major hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida Thursday evening. Life threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains are anticipated across parts of Florida with hurricane force wind gusts possible all the way north into Atlanta, Georgia.
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September 25, 7 a.m.
Helene remains a strong Tropical Storm Helene as it brushes the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is expected to move north into the southeastern Gulf Wednesday nearing hurricane strength. It looks to most likely make landfall in the Big Bend or Panhandle area of Florida Thursday as a major category 3 or higher hurricane. No impacts are expected for Texas.
September 24, 10 a.m.
The system in the Caribbean has organized and is now classified as Tropical Storm Helene. Helene should enter the southern Gulf tomorrow as a strong tropical storm or a cat. 1 hurricane. It then looks to move north towards the Florida coastline… most likely making landfall in the panhandle or Big Bend region of Florida. Helene will have the capability to become a major hurricane before making landfall. Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect for the western coast of Florida.
