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

Hurricane Helene is strengthening mainly because it moves throughout the japanese Gulf of Mexico toward a forecast Thursday evening or early Friday morning landfall about Florida's Major Bend Coastline and is "anticipated to carry catastrophic winds and storm surge on the northeastern Gulf Coast," the National Hurricane Center stated early Thursday. "Preparations to protect life and residence really should be rushed to completion," the center urged.

The National Weather Service warned in a post on X that, "A catastrophic and lethal storm surge is likely together parts from the Florida Massive Bend Coastline, where by inundation could attain as substantial as twenty toes above ground level, in conjunction with damaging waves. There's also a Hazard of lifetime-threatening storm surge together the rest of your west Coastline of your Florida Peninsula. People in those locations must comply with tips supplied by community officers and evacuate if instructed to do so."