TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Helene upgraded to a Category 2 storm on Wednesday and is continuing toward Florida's "Big Bend." It is expected to impact many of the state's coastal areas.
While it continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico, many are wondering when Helene is expected to hit Florida.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts Helene to hit the state's Big Bend coast on Thursday evening. While Helene is expected to weaken after landfall, NHC says it could be a major hurricane, Category 3 or higher, by then. In the latest update, the NHC says its expecting Helene to strengthen into a Category 3 storm before landfall.
"On the forecast track, Helene will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today and cross
the Florida Big Bend coast this evening or early Friday morning," the NHC said.
Thursday, the system will be parallel to Tampa Bay, passing by the area and bringing a surge. Thursday will be the day with the most severe impacts from the storm, with bands of rain and wind. The surge begins later in the day.
Hurricane forecasters say the storm will continue slowly toward the northwest over the southeastern United States on Friday and Saturday.
Helene's fast-forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds and gusts to make impacts inland across the southeastern U.S., including the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Impacts specific to Tampa include:
- Surge: Citrus, Pasco and Hernando counties could see 6-15 feet. Meanwhile, Hillsborough County could see 5-8 feet while Manatee and Sarasota Counties could see 4-7 feet. Lastly, inland counties like Polk, Hardee, Desoto and Highlands could see 1-3 feet.
- Rain: 4-8 inches possible
- Wind: 45-55+ mph sustained winds
- Severe Weather: Isolated tornadoes possible, a level 1 risk