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Helene Intensifies To A Category 2 Storm, Landfall As Major Hurricane This Evening

Hurricane Helene strengthened into a Category 2 storm this morning, with further intensification expected up until landfall this evening. It will likely become a high-end Category 3 or low-end Category 4 hurricane.

As of 10 a.m. CDT, Hurricane Helene was located near 24.5 N and 85.9 W, or about 255 miles southwest of Tampa, Fla., and 905 miles south of Apalachicola, Fla. Helene's maximum sustained winds have increased to 105 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The storm is moving north-northeast at 14 mph, with a minimum central pressure of 960 mb or 28.35 inches of mercury.

Hurricane Warnings are in effect for:

Hurricane Watches are in effect for:

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for:

Storm Surge Warnings are in effect for:

Helene continues to churn in very warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, interacting with very little wind shear. As a result, Helene is expected to continue to intensify, likely becoming a major hurricane by this afternoon with peak winds between 120 to 130 mph. Helene will continue to track north-northeast before making landfall as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane near Apalachicola this evening. Not only is Helene expected to be a strong hurricane, but it is also very large with tropical storm-force winds extending 345 miles from its center. This will lead to impacts felt all throughout the Southeast as Helene makes landfall later this evening.

Significant and catastrophic storm surge is expected today. In fact, parts of Florida’s Big Bend will likely see tides 15 to 20 feet above normal! The Tampa Bay area will likely see storm surges of 5 to 8 feet with the Florida Keys and the Atlantic Coast seeing 1 to 3 feet.

Rainfall totals and flooding will also be very concerning. With a cold front also set up along the southern Appalachians, extremely heavy rain will occur along and west of the Interstate 85 corridor in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Rain totals of 8 to 12 inches with isolated totals nearing 18 inches will occur in this area, including the Atlanta metro, Greensville-Spartanburg, S.C., and Asheville, N.C. Five to 10 inches will be common elsewhere in the Southeast, including Tallahassee, Fla., Auburn, Ala., and Valdosta, Ga. This will lead to catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding. Landslides too will be common across the southern Appalachians.

With all the rain and surge concerns, damaging winds are also expected within Helene. Sustained winds at landfall are anticipated to be anywhere from 115 to 130 mph with gusts potentially exceeding 150 mph along the Florida Panhandle. Most of the state of Florida can expect sustained winds of 40 to 50 mph and gusts of 60 to 75 mph. Helene will weaken as it moves inland, but eastern Georgia, northern South Carolina and western North Carolina can expect sustained winds of 35 to 55 mph and gusts of 65 to 75 mph Friday morning.

Hurricane Helene will be bringing plenty of severe weather threats to the Southeast in addition to the plethora of other impacts. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted an Enhanced Risk for far northeastern Florida, southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina, including Jacksonville, Fla., Savannah, Ga. and Charleston S.C. The main concern will be several tornadoes thanks to Helene’s strong winds late this afternoon through tonight.

It’s been an active tropical season so far, with several named storms already impacting the Atlantic basin. WeatherBug meteorologists, in collaboration with experts from AEM, predict an extremely busy season with 20 to 26 named storms, 9 to 13 hurricanes, and 5 to 7 major hurricanes.

As this season continues to heat up, it’s a good reminder to ensure that your hurricane kit is ready, with essentials like portable phone chargers, water, non-perishable food, and batteries. Make sure you know evacuation routes from your area and keep an eye on WeatherBug for the latest updates on Helene and other storms this season.

Hurricane Milton continues to steadily strengthen as the storm remains over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Milton will pose a significant threat to life and property across parts Florida as it could make landfall as a major hurricane late Wednesday or early Thursday.

As of 10 a.m. CDT, Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 21.7 N, longitude 91.7 W, or about 130 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and 720 miles southwest of Tampa, Fla. Milton is travelling east-southeast at 9 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The storm also has a central pressure of 933 mb or 27.55 inches of mercury.

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Celestun to Rio Lagartos. This means that hurricane conditions are expected within the next 36 hours.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Dry Tortugas and the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche and Campeche to south of Celestun. Another Hurricane Watch is in place for the Florida Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the mouth of the Suwanee River, which includes Tampa Bay. There is also a Hurricane Watch in place for Dry Tortugas and Lake Okeechobee. This means that hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

A Storm Surge Watch is in place for the Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo, Fla., northward towards the Suwanee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. This means that there is a possibility of life-threatening storm surge within the area with the next 48 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cancun, meaning that tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo, Fla., to south of Chokoloskee, and north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass, as well as the Florida Keys including Florida Bay. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

With plenty of warm Gulf water ahead of it, the storm is expected to continue to strengthen as it moves northeastward over the next couple of days, and Milton will likely reach major hurricane status later this morning into this afternoon.

For the moment, there is nothing but water ahead of Hurricane Milton, with Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula just south of its track, but it is expected to be on a bee-line toward the Gulf Coast of Florida, where it will make landfall on Wednesday. Given the uncertainty at this point, residents from the Big Bend to the Florida Keys should keep a close eye on Milton’s track.

Regardless of where it makes landfall, impacts will be plentiful. The outer bands of Milton are expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain across portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba. Through the rest of today, heavy rainfall streaming ahead of the storm may begin impacting parts of Florida between the I-4 and I-75 corridors, with more significant rainfall associated with the storm expected from Tuesday into Wednesday. By the time Milton passes, rain gauges could be up to 6 to 10 inches, with isolated totals up to 15 inches possible. This rainfall will likely lead to flash flooding, urban flooding, and moderate to major river flooding.

Flood Watches have been issued for central and southern Florida, including Tampa, Cedar Key, Naples, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, Orlando and Daytona Beach.

Swells generated by Milton will begin to affect the southwestern Gulf Coast today and on Tuesday. These swells could lead to life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Residents along the Florida Gulf Coast, especially those in low-lying areas, should begin preparing for potential impacts from Milton, including heavy rainfall, life-threatening storm surge, and strong winds. Coming just two weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged the Cedar Key-Tampa Bay region, be sure to not allow hurricane fatigue to prevent you from taking this system extremely seriously.

WeatherBug meteorologists will continue to monitor Hurricane Milton, so check for the latest information in your app.

Hurricane Milton Now a Category 5 Hurricane

Hurricane Milton continues to steadily strengthen as the storm remains over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Milton will pose a significant threat to life and property across parts Florida as it could make landfall as a major hurricane late Wednesday or early Thursday.

As of 10 a.m. CDT, Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 21.7 N, longitude 91.7 W, or about 130 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and 720 miles southwest of Tampa, Fla. Milton is travelling east-southeast at 9 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The storm also has a central pressure of 933 mb or 27.55 inches of mercury.

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Celestun to Rio Lagartos. This means that hurricane conditions are expected within the next 36 hours.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Dry Tortugas and the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche and Campeche to south of Celestun. Another Hurricane Watch is in place for the Florida Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the mouth of the Suwanee River, which includes Tampa Bay. There is also a Hurricane Watch in place for Dry Tortugas and Lake Okeechobee. This means that hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

A Storm Surge Watch is in place for the Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo, Fla., northward towards the Suwanee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. This means that there is a possibility of life-threatening storm surge within the area with the next 48 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cancun, meaning that tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo, Fla., to south of Chokoloskee, and north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass, as well as the Florida Keys including Florida Bay. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

With plenty of warm Gulf water ahead of it, the storm is expected to continue to strengthen as it moves northeastward over the next couple of days, and Milton will likely reach major hurricane status later this morning into this afternoon.

For the moment, there is nothing but water ahead of Hurricane Milton, with Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula just south of its track, but it is expected to be on a bee-line toward the Gulf Coast of Florida, where it will make landfall on Wednesday. Given the uncertainty at this point, residents from the Big Bend to the Florida Keys should keep a close eye on Milton’s track.

Regardless of where it makes landfall, impacts will be plentiful. The outer bands of Milton are expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain across portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba. Through the rest of today, heavy rainfall streaming ahead of the storm may begin impacting parts of Florida between the I-4 and I-75 corridors, with more significant rainfall associated with the storm expected from Tuesday into Wednesday. By the time Milton passes, rain gauges could be up to 6 to 10 inches, with isolated totals up to 15 inches possible. This rainfall will likely lead to flash flooding, urban flooding, and moderate to major river flooding.

Flood Watches have been issued for central and southern Florida, including Tampa, Cedar Key, Naples, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, Orlando and Daytona Beach.

Swells generated by Milton will begin to affect the southwestern Gulf Coast today and on Tuesday. These swells could lead to life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Residents along the Florida Gulf Coast, especially those in low-lying areas, should begin preparing for potential impacts from Milton, including heavy rainfall, life-threatening storm surge, and strong winds. Coming just two weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged the Cedar Key-Tampa Bay region, be sure to not allow hurricane fatigue to prevent you from taking this system extremely seriously.

WeatherBug meteorologists will continue to monitor Hurricane Milton, so check for the latest information in your app.