Helene, major Cat. 4 hurricane, makes landfall in Florida's Big Bend

Hurricane Helene's 11 p.m. track from the National Hurricane Center shows a tropical storm almost directly on top of Atlanta before the system loses its tropical characteristics and just spins for several days over Kentucky and Tennessee.

Hurricane Helene made landfall about 10 miles southwest of Perry on The Big Bend at 11:10pm Thursday. The Category 4 winds were at 140mph at landfall.

Hurricane Helene made landfall before 11:20 p.m. on Florida's Big Bend.

Tropical Storm Isaac in the mid-Atlantic Ocean strengthened Thursday night and was expected to become a hurricane soon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The storm was moving east away from the U.S. at 12 mph and was 910 miles northeast of Bermuda. Its maximum wind speeds were 65 mph.

There were no coastal watches or warnings associated with the storm, but the hurricane center said Bermuda was experiencing swells that could lead to life-threatening rip currents.

Hurricane Helene is "very close" to making landfall in the Big Bend coast, according to the NHC's advisory at 11 p.m.

NHC: "#Helene continued to strengthen rapidly to Category 4 status before it approached the coast, with the central pressure falling at about 3 [millibars] per hour since this afternoon... an intensity of about 120 [knots, or 140 mph] which might be a bit conservative" pic.twitter.com/nHzw3thTug

— John Morales (@JohnMoralesTV) September 27, 2024

Hurricane Helene's eyewall has begun moving ashore in the Big Bend area of Florida's northwestern coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The Category 4 storm is expected to produce “catastrophic winds” in the area over the next few hours, the center said.

“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," the hurricane center said. "Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions.”

The center warned when the storm's eye comes ashore, conditions will temporarily calm, but the eye's other side will quickly arrive and produce hazardous winds again.

As of 10 p.m., the storm was 65 miles south of Tallahassee, with sustained winds of 140 mph.

Helene's winds are holding at a devastating 140 mph and official landfall (when the center of the eye touches land) could happen over the next hour or so. The eye wall and the most intense winds are making landfall as we speak.

Officials have reported a Helene-related fatality after a traffic sign fell on top of a vehicle Thursday in Tampa.

It happened at around 8 p.m. on Interstate 4 westbound on Mile Marker 1, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials.

Troopers are responding to the scene.

Further details were not available.

An Extreme Wind Warning was issued for the Big Bend tonight, according to the National Weather Service Office in Tallahassee.

Extreme hurricane winds – of up to 115 mph or greater – are expected as landfall is near.

Residents are told to treat this like a tornado warning and must take immediate shelter.

The warning is "very rare," according to Meteorologist Ryan Phillips.

VERY rare •extreme wind warning• issued for landfall in Big Bend area until midnight. @NWSTallahassee pic.twitter.com/XDOtIXbxwr

— Ryan Phillips - NBC6 (@RyanNBC6) September 27, 2024

More than 500,000 homes and businesses had lost power in Florida as of 8:30 p.m., and that number is rising quickly, according to tracking site poweroutage.us.

Most outages were along the state's west coast, where Hurricane Helene was approaching. Duke Energy, a major energy provider serving west-central Florida and the Panhandle, and Florida Power & Light Company, the state's largest energy provider, were reporting over 150,000 outages each.

140 mph sustained Cat 4️⃣ now (225 km/hr).

Major #HurricaneHelene
9 PM EDT Thu Sep 26
Location: 29.1°N 84.2°W
Moving: NNE at 24 mph
Min pressure: 941 mb
Max sustained: 140 mph

Still an hour or two before landfall. pic.twitter.com/2gvGhHxHa8

— John Morales (@JohnMoralesTV) September 27, 2024

#Breaking @USCG Air Station #Clearwater saved a man & his dog, Thurs., during Hurricane #Helene after his 36-ft sailboat became disabled & started taking on water approximately 25 miles off Sanibel Island. Call the #USCG for help on VHF Ch. 16 or dial 911 for storm distress. #SAR pic.twitter.com/DtdyouxfMN

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024

Hurricane Helene is nearing the northeast Gulf Coast and is expected to bring catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening winds in the Big Bend area, the NHC said in its 8 p.m. advisory.

The extremely dangerous hurricane is 115 miles south of Tallahassee and 80 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key. It maintained winds of 130 mph and pressure decreased to 942 mb.

Hurricane #Helene Advisory 14A: Extremely Dangerous Hurricane Helene Nearing the Northeast Gulf Coast. Catastrophic Storm Surge and Life-Threatening Winds Expected in The Florida Big Bend Area. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 26, 2024

Powerful Helene continues to cause delays and cancelations for travelers. According to FlightAware.com, here are the latest numbers as of 7 p.m.:

Total delays today at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport:  149
Total cancelations today at FLL:  41

Total delays today at Miami International Airport:  272
Total cancelations today at MIA:  85

Departures were also delayed today for Royal Caribbean's Carnival Sunrise and Independence of the Seas, a spokesperson confirmed.

#Hurricane #Helene is now a Category 4 hurricane with max winds of 130 mph. If it maintains that intensity until landfall, it would be the first Cat. 4+ hurricane on record to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend on record (since 1851). Prior record - Cedar Key (1896) - 125 mph. pic.twitter.com/DvPNXIMLSB

— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) September 26, 2024

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that models have Hurricane Helene making landfall most likely in a rural coastal county of almost 22,000 people in the state’s Big Bend area.

The fast-moving storm will likely reach Taylor County, Florida late Thursday, DeSantis said at an evening news conference at the state’s emergency operation center in Tallahassee.

“You’re going to have hurricane force winds for probably 50 miles outside the eye of the storm, and then you’re going to continue to see surge, particularly in that Big Bend area,” DeSantis said.

About five hours before the expected landfall, the governor said residents of vulnerable areas of northern Florida “still have time” to evacuate but that the window was shutting quickly. The governor warned residents they would likely lose power and that intercoastal bridges across the state were being closed to traffic.

Helene became an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane Thursday evening with winds at 130 mph. NOAA Hurricane Hunters investigating the storm found the winds increased as pressure decreased to 947 MB.

Helene is expected to make landfall tonight between 10 p.m. and midnight in Florida's Big Bend region. It is the second major hurricane of the 2024 season.

According to FPL 270,470 FPL Customers in Florida are experiencing power outages. The website PowerOutage.us, which tracks power outages across the United States, reports 291,170 Florida residents without power.

For updates click here.

The National Hurricane Center reported at 6:20 p.m. Helene is now a Category 4 hurricane.

Helene's maximum sustained winds have increased to 130 mph.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for South Florida and the Keys this evening. However, the area is on the back end of the threat for tropical storm conditions as the pattern slowly improves overnight.

Thursday's wind gusts, in and out of rain bands, peaked at 72 mph at Opa-Locka Executive airport this afternoon. Nearby Fort Lauderdale Hollywood peaked with a gust of 64 mph in the morning.

The Tornado Watch that was in effect for a good portion of the day was cancelled at 5:00 pm. However, a Flood Watch remains in effect until Friday morning.

Rain totals from all local airports remained under 1" Thursday as rains were swift to move through the area.

NBC6’s Cherney Amhara is live in Key West with a look at what Helene left behind there.

Officials with Cedar Key Fire Rescue advised people to stay away from the water’s edge to avoid being hit by debris that was crashing ashore.

Lumber and other debris from a fire in Cedar Key a week ago were crashing ashore in the rising water Thursday afternoon, well ahead of Hurricane Helene’s arrival along the Big Bend region on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

On Wednesday afternoon, the agency pleaded with residents to evacuate the island, which is southwest of Gainesville.

“There will be no place for you to go if things get bad,” the post said. “We do not have shelters on the island. There will be no food, no water or sewage and more than likely you will lose power. This is going to be a life-threatening surge."

They offered a dire warning: “If you choose to stay and things change for the bad, you are putting your first responder’s life in danger unnecessarily.”

While Helene continues to approach Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, FSU students are starting to take shelter inside the Turnbull Center.

Some intersections in St. Pete Beach along Florida’s Gulf Coast were underwater by Thursday afternoon.

Photos posted by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office showed roads underwater in a commercial district of the beachside city located about 30 miles southwest of Tampa.

“We are already seeing concerning conditions,” the sheriff’s office posted.

The sheriff of a coastal Florida county in the path of Hurricane Helene said Thursday that his community is in for “a rough 24 hours and a long recovery.”

Wakulla County Sheriff Jared Miller said the county likely has a long road ahead of it once the storm passes after making an expected landfall Thursday night. The storm could grow to a Category 4 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico before landing in the Big Bend area where Wakulla County is located, with a storm surge up to 20 feet.

Getty Images

“I have lived here my entire life and have never witnessed some of the storm predictions we are currently seeing,” Miller said in a social media post. "I hope that I am mistaken."

The sheriff urged residents to stay off local roads, including evacuees who may be itching to return to see the conditions of their homes after the storm passes through.

The Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay has been closed as wind gusts from Hurricane Helene reached 60 mph, Florida Highway Patrol officials said.

"Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes, do not drive through flooded roadways, and unless absolutely necessary stay of Bay Area roadways," FHP officials said in a statement.

In a special update from the National Hurricane Center at 2:25 p.m. Thursday, Helene was upgraded to a major hurricane with 120 mph winds. This is the second major hurricane of the 2024 season.

By 3 p.m. the forward speed increased to 20 mph, marking the storm as swift moving, but very large.

Tropical Storm force winds intend out over 300 miles from the storm's center. Forecast to make landfall Thursday night as a category 3 storm with winds peaking near 120 mph, a considerable storm surge threat will build up the Florida west coast for the remainder of the afternoon.

South Florida and the Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm warning for the remainder of the day as gusty winds reach 40-50 mph with passing downpours.

Broward County Public Schools will be reopening on Friday after they were closed Thursday due to Hurricane Helene.

Schools and district offices will resume normal operations, officials said. This includes before and after school services, after-school activities, local field trips, and evening events and classes.

The Redefining Our Schools Community Meeting at Miramar High School that was postponed has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 1, at 6 p.m.

Helene was on the doorstep of becoming a major hurricane with winds increasing to 110 mph, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon.

The hurricane was moving north-northeast at 16 mph in the Gulf of Mexico about 195 miles southwest of Tampa, according to the NHC's 2 p.m. update.

Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Deanne Criswell said her agency has been preparing for Hurricane Helene for "a number of days" and they began moving resources into Florida on Monday.

Speaking at Thursday’s White House briefing, Criswell said she anticipates the storm will be a multi-state event with impacts from Florida to Tennessee. She added that there are 1,100 people distributed across the federal government to address any damage from Helene and that an additional 700 personnel are ready to provide support after the storm hits.

Criswell said she will travel to the region on Friday at President Joe Biden’s direction to assess the situation.

Max wind gusts in Key West from Hurricane Helene have been reported around 55 mph but the wave heights are just as impressive.

The buoys that sit to the southwest have reported a significant wave height: 16.1 feet!

The heights have grown from 10 feet Thursday morning to where they currently are breaking at.

Some Floridians dealing with powerful Hurricane Helene are complaining about price gouging related to fuel, water and hotel rooms, according to the attorney general’s office.

Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline is currently active. Under Florida law, businesses may not drastically increase prices on essential items during a declared state of emergency.

Attorney General Ashley Moody says businesses caught overcharging consumers face fines.

"If those prices are jacked up, we need you to let us know. We have already stopped some of these price increases in real time. That lets everybody get the supplies they need and be able to afford them," Moody said.

The Red Cross began mobilizing for Hurricane Helene on Monday and there are more than 400 responders on the ground across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, with an additional disaster workers arriving over the next 24 hours, the agency said Thursday.

In addition to the human resources deployed, the Red Cross also mobilized more than 45,000 meals and snacks and truckloads of shelter supplies to support thousands of individuals in shelters.

Andres Asion knows disaster. He’s part of a local effort that delivers food and basic necessities to people in need around the world.

At Global Empowerment Mission in Doral, the cans and the bottles are packed, they’re ready to go.

“When disaster happens we have boots on the ground as soon as possible,” Asion said.

Six semi-trucks are headed for the panhandle as of Thursday, containing canned goods, water, personal hygiene items, and even roof tarps.

Video shows several people running one by one to the Key West's Southernmost Point Buoy to take pictures as crashing waves slammed the popular landmark.

The stormy conditions made it very dangerous for anyone to approach the landmark as the waves drenched the area.

Some people held on to the buoy structure as they took pictures and waves crashed towards them.

Helene continued to strengthen on Thursday, with the fast-moving hurricane's winds reaching 105 mph in the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Helene was moving north-northeast at 14 mph about 255 miles southwest of Tampa, according to the 11 a.m. update from the NHC.

State officials warned Florida residents of the potential risks they face even after Hurricane Helene rips through the northern part of the state, which was expected Thursday night.

Driving on roadways and tree branches falling on homes were the two biggest hazards during storms, said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a news conference in Tallahassee.

Drivers should stay off roads because of potential flooding and people should stay in the interior parts of their homes if they hear tree limbs snapping, which sounds like fireworks or a gun being fired, officials said.

“It will likely be dark by the time this storm passes,” DeSantis said. “Do not try to do any work in the dark. You don’t know what hazards are out there. The sun is going to come out. You’re going to have time to take stock of this.”

Even the building where Florida’s emergency response to Hurricane Helene is organized will be put to the test when the fast-moving storm hits near Tallahassee late Thursday, state officials said.

The building that houses the state’s emergency operations center in Tallahassee has walls that were built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. But during construction in the 1990s, there wasn’t enough money to ensure the roof could withstand a hurricane that strong, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference. Backup plans were in place should there be any problems with the building.

“It should be fine, but we’ll see,” DeSantis said. “We’ve taken precautions just in case something happens to be able to continue the continuity without any major interruption.”

Rain was beginning to blow in the predawn darkness Thursday along coastal U.S. Highway 98, which winds through countless fishing villages and vacation hideaways along Florida’s Big Bend.

Shuttered gas stations dotted the two-lane highway, their windows boarded up with plywood to protect against the storm. The road was largely empty at first light, with what drivers there mostly heading northeast, towards higher ground.

Getty Images

This stretch of Florida known as the Forgotten Coast has been largely spared by the widespread condo development and commercialization that dominates so many of Florida’s beach communities. The sparsely populated region is loved for its natural wonders — the vast stretches of salt marshes, tidal pools and barrier islands; the dwarf cypress trees of Tate’s Hell State Forest; and Wakulla Springs, considered one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs.

Here are the strongest winds we've seen in South Florida so far on Thursday. These conditions should peak this afternoon.

While some streets in Fort Myers Beach were flooded, others were mostly spared from flooding as residents are hoping the storm surge from Hurricane Helene doesn't creep higher Thursday.

Streets right off the main area of Fort Myers Beach like San Carlos Boulevard were flooded and seeing high water levels as storm surge was still impacting the area as of 10 a.m.

A tornado warning was issued for a portion of southwestern Broward County on Thursday.

The warning was issued at 9:37 a.m. as a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 10 miles southwest of Intersection Alligator Alley and Miami Canal, or 22 miles west of Pembroke Pines, moving north at 50
mph, according to the National Weather Service.

It was in effect until 10 a.m.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said officials are assuming Helene is going to be a major hurricane when it likely makes landfall in Florida later Thursday.

"This is a very large storm, so you're gonna see tropical weather that's gonna extend hundreds of miles away from the center of the storm," DeSantis said at a news conference in Tallahassee Thursday morning.

Getty Images

The governor said the state was preparing to respond to the aftermath of the hurricane but said residents in its path will likely experience dangerous conditions.

"It's gonna be nasty throughout the latter part of the day here in the state of Florida," DeSantis said.

Roads near the beach in Fort Myers were covered in ankle-deep water Thursday as Helene, now a Category 2 hurricane, works its way toward Florida.

The city is no stranger to deadly storm surge.

"[During Hurricane] Ian, I lost my house on Hibiscus [Street] completely and last week my new house was finished," one resident, Debbie, told NBC6 on Wednesday.

She shares the same story as Don Hunter, who lost everything in Ian.

Helene became a Category 2 hurricane with significant additional strengthening expected before landfall in the Big Bend, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

As of 8 a.m., Helene's maximum sustained winds were at 100 mph.

The storm is located about 320 miles southwest of Tampa and was moving north-northeast at around 12 mph, according to the latest advisory.

8 AM Advisory has come out a few minutes early. Helene becomes a category 2 hurricane and is still forecast to rapidly strengthen before landfall in the Big Bend. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/TvQS8B7dA6

— Chelsea Ambriz (@ChelseaAmbrizTV) September 26, 2024

A tornado watch has been issued for a large swath of Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, until 8 p.m. Thursday due to Hurricane Helene.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for much of Florida - this includes ALL of South Florida until 8 PM. These quick but frequent spin ups are possible with the scattered squalls that will move through off and on today. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/sAhCAz1YdH

— Chelsea Ambriz (@ChelseaAmbrizTV) September 26, 2024

All classes, including virtual ones, were canceled Thursday at Broward College, the school announced.

Offices at all Broward College campuses and locations will also be closed.

Normal operations will resume Friday.

The latest advisory from the National Weather Service on Hurricane Helene shows the pressure continues to drop while max sustained winds were at 90 mph Thursday morning.

The satellite imagery was showing the eye is trying to clear out. The hurricane is starting to take turn north-northeast, which was expected.

The forward movement will drastically accelerate within the next 12 to 24 hours. Helene is still on track to become a major hurricane before landfall in the northern Florida, Big Bend, region.

Check out the complete forecast for South Florida on Thursday as Hurricane Helene churns in the Gulf of Mexico.

From filling sandbags to protect their properties to purchasing perishable goods, Tallahassee residents assure they are prepared for Hurricane Helene's arrival.

"I’m not very concerned. I grew up in the north so weather doesn’t stress me out as much water," mother Angelina Horn said. "I did get water just in case, but we have a generator, so I’m not too worried.”

Brothers Harrison and Phillip Pingree say they have everything set and will weather the storm.

"Well as you see, we got plenty of plenty of nonperishable foods. We got waters loaded up. We’re getting gas and gas cans, sandbags at one of the local areas that you can pick them up. Make sure the house is kind of fortified enough if any flooding happens," Harrison said.

"You just have to load up on food, water and gas food watering gas and hope for the best,” Phillip said.

Authorities have issued an evacuation order for anyone living in mobile homes.

Darinel Díaz, who was hurriedly trying to protect his fragile home, decided to evacuate with his entire family and children.

Some delays and cancellations have been reported at South Florida airports on Thursday due to Helene.

As of 4:30 a.m., Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reported five delays and 18 cancellations.

Miami International Airport reported nine delays and 37 cancellations.

Travelers were being asked to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools will remain open on Thursday, officials said.

The district clarified its changes for school-related activities as campuses remain open.

pic.twitter.com/G1DCZNCQhj

— Miami-Dade Schools (@MDCPS) September 26, 2024

As of 5 a.m. Thursday, Hurricane Helene was a Category 1 storm located about 350 miles southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph, the National Weather Service said.

"This general motion is expected to continued with a significant increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours," according to the National Weather Service.

Helene is expected to intensify into a major hurricane (Category 3) in the next 12 hours.

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties. South Florida may see wind gusts up to 50 mph.

Broward County Public Schools will be closed on Thursday due to Hurricane Helene, the district announced.

All schools and district offices, including before and after-school care, after-school activities, field trips, and evening events and classes, will be closed and canceled.

The district's "Redefining Our Schools" meeting at Miramar High School, which was scheduled for Thursday, will also be rescheduled.

The district said it will announce updates regarding Friday's operations on Thursday afternoon.

Parents and students. Please read the latest @browardschools operational update. pic.twitter.com/34vQ1TLNGe

— Broward Schools (@browardschools) September 25, 2024