ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is closed as weather conditions worsen due to Hurricane Helene.
The Florida Highway Patrol is closing the bridge Thursday afternoon after winds reached 60 mph, according to a news release.
Drivers are requested to seek alternate routes and to not drive through flooded roadways. They are warning drivers to stay off Bay Area roadways.
It is unclear when the bridge will reopen.
Helene is currently a Category 3 storm and is expected to strengthen before making landfall in Florida's Big Bend region.
The Tampa Bay area began experiencing the first rain bands Wednesday night and Helene is bringing "catastrophic" winds and storm surge to parts of the region, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
