Hurricane Helene tracker: Florida braces for ‘catastrophic’ storm surge as Category 4 storm forecast to make landfall today

Storm surge occurs when strong winds push sea water onshore, causing an abnormal rise in water level.

It can result in extensive flooding for those living in coastal areas, with heavy rains and large waves generated from the wind adding to build up of water.

The change in sea level is measured at the height the water sits above the normal predicted astronomical tide.

The National Hurricane Center has declared a “life threatening situation” with much of Florida’s Gulf Coast expected to experience nine-plus feet of storm surge.

The stretch between Carrabelle to Suwannee River in Florida may expect up to 20ft of storm surge, according to the NHC’s latest briefing.

See the National Weather Service’s diagram below:

Florida’s emergency chief, Kevin Guthrie, warned the effects of Helene will be far-reaching and residents should be careful even if they think they’re far from the storm.

“Tropical storm force winds can be filled up to 250 miles from the center,” Guthrie explained at a Wednesday morning press conference

“Tornadoes are probable and high winds, life-threatening storm surge and flooding cannot be ruled out,” he added.

Guthrie urged residents to keep their devices on to receive emergency alerts and to have an evacuation plan in place.

Hurricane Helene, which is expected to strengthen to Category 4, will batter Florida two years after Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida, in September 2022. Meanwhile, Helene is set to make landfall slightly north, near Florida’s Big Bend region.

Hurricane Ian is the costliest to ever hit Florida and the third-costliest in US history.

The agency also allocated $2.3 billion to reimburse state, local and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations for storm-related costs.

Hurricane Helene is set to cause ‘unprecedented’ damage to parts of the state.

“We will have countless downed trees. We will have structural damage. We will have loss of power,” Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said on Wednesday. “Yes, if our community remains central in Helene’s path as forecasted, we will see unprecedented damage like nothing we have ever experienced before.”

“Catastrophic” storm surge and flooding could render some areas of Tallahassee and the surrounding region “uninhabitable” for weeks or months, the National Weather Service said.

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey told residents that Hurricane Helene could bring “unprecedented damage” to the Florida city if it remains on its current path.

“We will have countless downed trees. We will have structural damage. We will have loss of power,” Dailey said on Wednesday. “Yes, if our community remains central in Helene’s path as forecasted, we will see unprecedented damage like nothing we have ever experienced before.”

The storm could strengthen to a Category 4 as it makes landfall in Florida late Thursday.