Tropical Storm Helene has officially been upgraded to a hurricane as it intensifies while moving north along Mexico’s coast toward the U.S. The National Hurricane Center reported that Helene’s center was positioned near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as of Wednesday. Residents of Florida and Georgia are being urged to prepare for the storm’s arrival, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening conditions to the southeastern U.S.

In response to the storm’s trajectory, both Florida and Georgia officials have declared states of emergency. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that hurricane conditions could extend up to 90 miles into northern Georgia, with other states like Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana also bracing for significant rainfall as Helene moves inland.

Brian McNoldy, an environmental researcher at the University of Miami, noted that once the hurricane makes landfall, it may take time for it to weaken. Forecasters predict that Helene could develop into a Category 3 hurricane or higher, with wind gusts exceeding 110 mph. The storm is projected to reach Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday.

Residents in Florida’s Big Bend region, still recalling the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael in 2018, have hurried to prepare their homes. Many are boarding up windows and seeking higher ground. Kristin Korinko, a Tallahassee resident and commodore of the Shell Point Sailboard Club, remarked on the heightened urgency as people take the storm warnings seriously.

On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 41 of the state’s 67 counties, emphasizing that while Helene is expected to make landfall in the Panhandle, residents should prepare for potential impacts statewide. The NHC continues to monitor the storm closely and provide updates as it approaches the U.S. coastline.