Hurricane Helene is Officially a Major Category 4 Hurricane Approaching Florida
If you have been following MickeyBlog today, you know that we have been monitoring and tracking this hurricane and its impact on Florida.
As of Thursday afternoon, Hurricane Helene officially intensified into a category 4 hurricane.
Fox 35 Orlando
This evening, the National Hurricane Center announced that the maximum sustained winds had increased to 130 mph, officially making it a category 4.
It is moving north-northeast at 23 mph and is located about 120 miles west of Tampa and 165 miles south of Tallahassee.
Hurricane Helene Intensifies
The hurricane is picking up energy from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and creating hurricane-force winds,10 to 20 feet of storm surges, flooding, and the potential for tornadoes.
Orlando Sentinel
Local meteorologists have warned that as the hurricane makes landfall, it is going to create intense conditions and a dangerous night.
The hurricane will make landfall on the Florida Big Bend coast in the next few hours, and the hurricane-force winds can spread inland across portions of northern Florida and Georgia.
In addition, the National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch covering the majority of Florida’s peninsula, from North Central Florida to the Florida Keys.
Photo:Congress
Power outages have grown throughout the day across the state, with 250,000 customers losing power by 6 PM.
Governor DeSantis has already issued a pair of state of emergency orders covering 61 of Florida’s 67 country counties.
Axios
In preparation, over 18,000 utility linemen, 3500 Florida National Guard soldiers, 250 Florida State Guard, as well as the Florida Fishing and Wildlife Commission, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, county sheriffs, and city police are ready to assist.
Be safe, and stay tuned! Follow MickeyBlog to stay updated on this and all things Disney.
