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Residents of the western US state of Florida are preparing with dread for the passage of violent Hurricane Helene.
Helene has crossed the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane and will make landfall in western Florida today. The tropical hurricane is developing at lightning speed and will be classified as a major Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall in the United States.
The National Hurricane Center is warning of a catastrophic and potentially life-threatening situation. A storm surge of up to one meter is expected. Strong wind gusts and heavy rainfall are already causing residents to fear the worst.
Wind speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour are expected. Five states have already declared a state of emergency for the passage of this tropical cyclone. Weather models therefore predict that Helene will be one of the largest storms to hit the region in years.
