"Gargantuan" Hurricane Helene could bring "catastrophic and deadly storm surge" to parts of Florida Gulf Coast

Hurricane Helene is strengthening because it moves throughout the jap Gulf of Mexico towards a forecast Thursday evening or early Friday early morning landfall above Florida's Massive Bend Coast and it is "expected to bring catastrophic winds and storm surge to the northeastern Gulf Coastline," the Countrywide Hurricane Centre mentioned early Thursday. "Preparations to guard existence and property ought to be rushed to completion," the center urged.

The National Weather Service warned in a post on X that, "A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is probably going alongside portions of the Florida Significant Bend Coastline, wherever inundation could access as significant as 20 feet over floor stage, along with damaging waves. There is also a danger of everyday living-threatening storm surge alongside the remainder of your west coast on the Florida Peninsula. Residents in People locations should really observe suggestions offered by nearby officers and evacuate if advised to take action."