Hurricane Helene Strengthens to Category 2, Set to Impact Florida’s Panhandle
(Credit to National Hurricane Center)
Helene strengthened into a category 2 hurricane overnight and is expected to make landfall this evening. The panhandle and Big Bend region are already feeling its effects, with residents preparing for the storm over the past few days.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns Tallahassee residents to prepare for Helene potentially becoming a category 3 hurricane as the storm continues to shift east. At a State Emergency Operations Center press conference this morning, he stated, “The way this is tracking is a storm that is stronger than what we’ve seen in this region I think in anyone’s memory,” when asked if he had a message for residents who decided not to evacuate.
Helene is currently a category 2 hurricane (Credit to National Hurricane Center)
As of 11 AM EDT today, the storm is producing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and is moving north-northeast at 14 mph, according to The Weather Channel. This fast-moving hurricane is currently 225 miles southwest of Tampa.
