The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects that a storm will intensify a Category 3 hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida.
The NOAA already upgraded Helene, the storm, to a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday as it is set to make landfall Thursday in Florida, NBC News reported.
The storm is already been recorded with sustained winds of up to 80 miles per hour as it picks up strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA already filmed “the eye of Hurricane” from a Lockheed WP-3D turboprop aircraft and shared this footage on social media.
Hello from the eye of Hurricane #Helene!👋
Check out the view from @NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 “Miss Piggy” from this morning’s mission. Flights collect data to refine intensity forecasts and support hurricane research.
Check @NHC_Atlantic and https://t.co/3phpgKNx0q for the latest… pic.twitter.com/lU2NstBrn6— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) September 25, 2024
“Helene is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeast U.S.,” the National Hurricane Center warned in a tweet.
11AM EDT Sep 25: #Helene becomes a Hurricane. Helene is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeast U.S. Make sure to stay up to date with the latest forecast as we move throughout the event at… pic.twitter.com/aiDCNlravO
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 25, 2024
“As always, Florida will prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We already have nearly 18,000 linemen staged (and more en route), and are ready with search and rescue and roadway clearing crews,” Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted Tuesday.
Tropical Storm Helene, now formed, is projected to intensify. As always, Florida will prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
We already have nearly 18,000 linemen staged (and more en route), and are ready with search and rescue and roadway clearing crews.
Stay tuned to… pic.twitter.com/lJI5miDkvN
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 24, 2024
Atlanta officials announced that public schools would be closed Thursday and Friday due to the “expected severe weather from the impact of Hurricane Helene,” NBC News reported.
A Category Three hurricane is defined as having winds moving at 111-129 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Such a storm is likely to cause “[d]evastating damage,” including significant destruction of sturdy residences and the uprooting of trees. People in affected areas can expect a lack of electricity and water services for several days or more. Hurricanes at Category 3 and above are labeled significant hurricanes.
