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

Hurricane Helene is strengthening since it moves over the eastern Gulf of Mexico towards a forecast Thursday evening or early Friday morning landfall over Florida's Significant Bend Coast and is particularly "predicted to bring catastrophic winds and storm surge to the northeastern Gulf Coast," the Nationwide Hurricane Center explained early Thursday. "Preparations to protect daily life and property must be rushed to completion," the center urged.

The National Weather Service warned in a post on X that, "A catastrophic and fatal storm surge is likely along parts of your Florida Large Bend coast, the place inundation could arrive at as higher as 20 ft earlier mentioned floor amount, in addition to harmful waves. There is also a danger of existence-threatening storm surge alongside the remainder on the west Coastline with the Florida Peninsula. People in Those people areas ought to stick to tips specified by local officials and evacuate if told to do so."