Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Monday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene’s landfall later this week.
The National Hurricane Center announced in an update on Monday that the now-tropical storm is expected to strengthen into a full-blown hurricane by Wednesday with winds reaching 115 mph before it even hits the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.
The state of emergency will place 41 of Florida’s 67 counties under a state of emergency, according to the press release.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Nine. Thomas Cordy/The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Helene is currently festering just south of Cuba and will shoot upwards into the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center. This path will place it right over the record-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which will likely boost its strength on its track to the U.S. Gulf.
Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches have also been issued throughout Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba.
Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to develop into either Tropical Storm or Hurricane Helene. PHOTO PROVIDED BY NOAA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A forecast map for Tropical Cyclone Nine from the National Hurricane Center. National Hurricane Center / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The storm is expected to dump up to 8 inches of rain along western Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The eastern Yucatan Peninsula should see around 4 inches of rain as well.
The Dry Tortugas and Lower Florida Keys south of the Seven Mile Bridge have been issued tropical storm warnings, but no hurricane watches so far.
When the escalating hurricane hits Florida’s panhandle on Thursday, wind speeds could be up to 110 mph, placing it on the higher end of a Category 2 hurricane or even a Category 3, the NHC said.
In anticipation of the storm, people are doing whatever they can to protect their businesses and homes. Tampa General Hospital began building a 10-foot-high barrier around its facility on Monday to block out the flood, just in case the storm worsens or shifts unexpectedly. The hospital did the same for Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
Hurricane season runs from June 1-Nov. 30, but typically peaks in the Atlantic around Sept. 10, according to the Weather Channel.
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Publish date : 2024-09-23 09:07:00
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