A strengthening Hurricane Helene is moving across the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast Thursday, possibly with Category 3 strength, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The center today said Helene would rapidly strengthen over the eastern Gulf of Mexico before making landfall with winds of 120-125 mph. The center also and warned that "upward adjustments to the forecast intensity" could be required as the storm closes in on Florida.
AccuWeather said Helene could make landfall along the eastern portion of the Florida panhandle late Thursday. It's expected to deliver from at least 8 to 12 inches of rain.
After making landfall, Helene is expected to head north over western Georgia and eastern Alabama before curing to the northwest and eventually overspreading Tennessee, as well as parts of Kentucky, and southern portions of Missouri, Indiana and Illinois.
Evacuations have been under way in Florida, where a state of emergency has been declared for most of the state's counties. States of emergency have also been declared in North Carolina and Georgia.
National Weather Service
