A storm is forecast to make landfall in Florida with Category 4 strength and a “catastrophic” storm surge

Hurricane Helene is forecast to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast Thursday night at Category 4 strength, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday night.

The storm is expected to bring a “catastrophic and deadly storm surge” across much of Florida and the Southeast, forecasters warned. The storm surge could reach up to 20 feet in height.

The governors of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have declared states of emergency in anticipation of Helene’s arrival. Tampa International Airport announced it will suspend operations on Thursday.

Several Florida counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders for people living in low-lying areas. Residents in the storm’s possible path have been told to prepare for up to a week without power.

“It’s a very large storm,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference Wednesday. “A lot of people will be without power… be prepared for that.”

Where is the storm and what is its path?

According to the NHC’s 5 p.m. ET advisory, Helene, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, was located about 460 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, and moving north at 12 mph.

The storm is expected to intensify rapidly and hit Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm with winds of more than 130 mph, forecasters said.

In addition to strong winds, the storm will threaten millions of residents along the Gulf Coast with heavy rains, as well as the possibility of tornadoes. Before heading into the Gulf of Mexico, Helene will bring heavy rains to parts of the western Caribbean, possibly mudslides and flooding in western Cuba. The system will also pose the threat of inland flooding in several U.S. states.

“Significant flash and urban flooding is expected across portions of Florida, the Southeast, southern Appalachians, and the Tennessee Valley Wednesday through Friday,” the National Hurricane Center said.

There is a possibility of life-threatening storm surge across the Florida peninsula, the weather service warned.

Peak storm surges of up to 20 feet are possible along portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

How is Florida preparing?

On Tuesday, DeSantis expanded the state of emergency to 61 counties ahead of the storm’s arrival. Helene is expected to make landfall near the Big Bend region of northwest Florida, which was battered by Hurricane Debby earlier this season.

The declaration allows the state to implement its Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, allowing the use of resources for any logistical, rescue or evacuation operation.

“Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone and be as prepared as possible for the storm,” DeSantis said in a post on X.

Many Florida cities and counties opened designated sites for residents to fill sandbags ahead of the storm.

Evacuation zones

Authorities urged people living in low-lying areas to check a website outlining evacuation zones and to obey evacuation orders. Mandatory evacuations were issued in 14 counties, including Pinellas and Hillsborough, as of midday Wednesday.

The University of Tampa, which is in one of the areas under mandatory evacuation orders in Hillsborough County, said it was working to evacuate all residential buildings on its campus.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that many grocery stores in the Tampa area were without water Tuesday as post-hurricane shoppers stocked up on supplies.

Alerts and warnings

At 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, a hurricane warning It was in force during:

• From the Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida

• Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico

A “hurricane warning” means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. It is typically issued 36 hours before the expected arrival of tropical storm-force winds.

TO hurricane warning It was in force during:

• Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba

• From Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A “hurricane watch” means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch areas. It is usually issued 48 hours before the hurricane is expected to make landfall.

TO tropical storm warning It was in force during:

• Dry turtles

• All Florida Keys

• Florida’s West Coast from Flamingo to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

• West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County line

• Lake Okeechobee

• From Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico

• Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth

A “tropical storm warning” means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning areas within the next 36 hours.

TO storm surge warning It was in force during:

A “storm surge watch” indicates the possibility of life-threatening flooding, such as rising water moving inland from the coast.