Florida
Florida’s Gulf Coast could see a Category 2 hurricane this week after Helene forms
Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend area could see a landfalling hurricane on Thursday, potential a Category 2 or stronger.
Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center issued its first forecast track for a disturbance hovering west of Jamaica, now classified as potential tropical cyclone 9. The track takes it between Mexico and Cuba, into the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida’s west coast in three days.
Mexico issued a tropical storm warning for the Yucatan Peninsula, and Cuba issued one for the Isle of Youth and Artemisia, as well as a hurricane watch for Pinar del Rio. Both spots could see up to four feet of storm surge and several inches of rain from the storm.
Because the system has not formed yet and lacks a defined center, forecasters warned that the forecast was more uncertain than usual. They expect Helene to develop in the next day or two and then rapidly strengthen as it heads toward Florida.
“Given the large size of the tropical-storm-force wind field and fast forward speed that is forecast, storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts will likely extend well away from the center, particularly to the east of the system,” the 11 a.m. discussion read.
South Florida could see rain, potentially heavy, beginning as soon as Wednesday and lasting into the weekend.
Helene’s path forward is lined with some of the warmest waters in the Atlantic basin, which could fuel its growth into a strong hurricane. The first forecast called for Helen to top out with 110 mph sustained winds right before landfall, a strong Category 2 verging on Category 3.
The waters in the northeast Gulf are about 2 degrees Celsius warmer than average, posted Ben Noll, a meteorologist with New Zealand’s National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, on Twitter.
“It’s concerning from a potential intensity and moisture availability perspective!” he wrote.
Florida
Playhouse blown down Florida beach as Hurricane Helene approaches | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather
Playhouse blown down Florida beach as Hurricane Helene approaches
FOX Weather Meteorologist Ian Oliver was reporting from a St. Petersburg beach when powerful winds sent a playhouse tumbling over the sand and surf. Wind gusts in St. Petersburg have exceed 50 mph. Sept. 26, 2024.
Florida
Northwest Florida prepares for powerful Hurricane Helene
Forecasters are warning that Hurricane Helene will intensify into a major storm before striking Florida and further inland as it heads northward across the Gulf of Mexico. The storm had already prompted many residents to evacuate, while others are preparing.
Florida
Passengers arrive in Chicago from Florida ahead of Hurricane Helene
CHICAGO – Hurricane Helene is strengthening as it moves toward Florida, where it is expected to make landfall on Thursday.
Some residents are evacuating Florida ahead of the storm and relocating to Chicago.
We caught up with one passenger late Wednesday afternoon. Originally from Chicago, she now lives in Naples.
Donna Pecci has been traveling for business and just returned to O’Hare International Airport from Arkansas. She is visiting family in the area before attempting to get back to Florida.
So far, her flight is on schedule, but she is bracing for possible delays.
“We’re headed back to pick up our dog and supposedly, supposedly it’s supposed to be out tomorrow,” said Pecci. “We are getting a lot of alerts and a lot of people back home saying that we are definitely kind of in the line of fire. Definitely going to get a lot of storms, a lot of wind. We’ve been through this before. We’ve been down in Naples now for about three years, full-time, and six years, part-time. So, we’re kind of used to it, but it’s always scary.”
More passengers are expected to arrive at O’Hare from Florida; one flight is coming from Panama City and another from Pensacola.
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