"Gargantuan" Hurricane Helene could provide "catastrophic and lethal storm surge" to areas of Florida Gulf Coast

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

Hurricane Helene is strengthening since it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico toward a forecast Thursday night or early Friday early morning landfall in excess of Florida's Large Bend Coastline and it is "expected to provide catastrophic winds and storm surge towards the northeastern Gulf Coastline," the Nationwide Hurricane Heart stated early Thursday. "Preparations to safeguard existence and home ought to 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 alongside portions of your Florida Big Bend Coastline, where by inundation could attain as large as twenty ft higher than floor level, as well as harmful waves. There is also a danger of lifestyle-threatening storm surge alongside the remainder in the west coast on the Florida Peninsula. Inhabitants in All those spots should really follow guidance provided by neighborhood officials and evacuate if informed to do so."