The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Helene is forecasted to continue its northward path through the Gulf of Mexico, set to impact Florida on Thursday evening.
According to data from the NHC, the storm’s maximum sustained winds have risen to 85 mph (140 km/h).
In anticipation of the storm’s arrival, the governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia have declared states of emergency.
Helene is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds before making landfall Thursday night, leading to emergency declarations, school closures, and evacuation orders in certain areas of the state.
The presidential campaign has also been disrupted by the severe weather, which prompted Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance to cancel two scheduled events in Georgia for Thursday.
The NHC also issued a warning that the storm had the potential to result in urban flooding and calamitous flash flooding throughout the southeastern United States, and it is anticipated that the storm will deliver 4 to 8 inches (10-20 centimetres) of precipitation to the Cayman Islands and Cuba before hitting land.
Almost two years ago, on September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian struck near Cayo Costa, Florida, as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph. The hurricane unleashed heavy rain and storm surges, marking it as one of the most powerful and deadly storms in Florida’s history.
Frances Ibiefo
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