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This Category 2 hurricane, on the Saffir-Simpson scale out of a total of 5, threatens with strong winds, storm surge and flooding a vast coastal region of the Florida peninsula.
Hurricane Helene strengthened to Category 2 strength on Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour) and is expected to increase further as it heads toward Florida , the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.
The system is located 550 kilometers (320 miles) south of Tampa , on the central-west coast of Florida, and 585 kilometers (366 miles) from Apalachicola, in the northwest corner of the state, according to the latest NHC bulletin.
This Category 2 hurricane, on the Saffir-Simpson scale out of a total of 5, threatens with strong winds, storm surge and flooding a vast coastal region of the Florida peninsula, which is expected to arrive tonight as a major hurricane.
The NHC today called for “expeditious completion of preparations to protect life and property.”
Helene, the eighth named system this Atlantic hurricane season, is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane (Category 3, 4, or 5).
If it hits Florida as expected, it will be the fourth hurricane to hit US soil this year, following Beryl, Debby and Francine.
