Helene is expected to become a major hurricane – possibly a Category 4 – when it reaches the coast of Big Bend, Florida.

According to the latest announcement from the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane is expected to make landfall Thursday evening.

Parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast could experience tropical storm force winds beginning early Thursday morning.

After making landfall, the hurricane is expected to turn northwest and slow as it moves across the Tennessee Valley Friday and into the weekend.

A storm surge occurs when strong winds push seawater inland, causing water levels to rise abnormally.

For people living in coastal areas, this can lead to major flooding. The heavy rainfall and high waves caused by the wind also cause more water to remain.

The change in sea level is measured at the height at which the water is above the normal predicted astronomical tide.

The National Hurricane Center has declared the situation “life-threatening” as much of Florida’s Gulf Coast faces storm surges of over 10 feet (3 meters) high.

According to the latest NHC briefing, storm surge of up to 20 feet (6 meters) is possible in the area between Carrabelle and the Suwannee River in Florida.

See the chart below from the National Weather Service:

Florida Emergency Management Chief Kevin Guthrie warned that Helene’s impacts will be far-reaching and that residents should exercise caution even if they think they are far away from the storm.

“Tropical storm force winds can be gusted up to 250 miles from the center,” Guthrie explained at a news conference Wednesday morning

“Tornadoes are likely and strong winds, life-threatening storm surges and flooding cannot be ruled out,” he added.

Guthrie urged residents to leave their devices on to receive emergency notifications and to have an evacuation plan ready.

Hurricane Helene, which is expected to strengthen to Category 4, will hit Florida two years after Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida in September 2022. Meanwhile, Helene is expected to make landfall slightly further north, near the Big Bend region of Florida.

Hurricane Ian is the most powerful hurricane to ever hit Florida and the third most powerful hurricane in US history.

The agency has also allocated $2.3 billion to reimburse storm costs to state, local and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations.

Hurricane Helene is expected to cause ‘unprecedented’ damage in parts of the state.

“We’re going to have numerous downed trees. We’re going to have structural damage. We’re going to have power outages,” Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said Wednesday. “Yes, if our community remains centrally in Helene’s path as predicted, we’re going to see unprecedented damage like we’ve never seen before.”

According to the National Weather Service, “catastrophic” storm surges and flooding could leave some areas of Tallahassee and the surrounding region “uninhabitable” for weeks or months.

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey told residents that Hurricane Helene could cause “unprecedented damage” to the Florida city if the hurricane continues on its current path.

“We’re going to have numerous downed trees. We’re going to have structural damage. We’re going to have power outages,” Dailey said Wednesday. “Yes, if our community remains centrally in Helene’s path as predicted, we’re going to see unprecedented damage like we’ve never seen before.”

The storm could strengthen to Category 4 when it makes landfall in Florida on Thursday evening.