The shift has the storm aimed squarely at the sparsely-populated Big Bend area

Hurricane Helene has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm as it approaches Florida’s northwestern coast, prompting officials to issue urgent evacuation orders due to fears of catastrophic storm surge. The storm, expected to make landfall on Thursday evening, poses a “nightmare” scenario, with significant damage anticipated hundreds of miles inland across the southeastern U.S.

Helene was about 195 miles southwest of Tampa on Thursday afternoon and moving north-northeast at 16 mph with top sustained winds of at least 111 mph ( Image: Getty Images)

As Helene continues to strengthen, it is targeting the ‘Big Bend’ region—a 200-mile stretch of rural coast between Panama City and Cedar Key. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that current models suggest the storm will make landfall further east, potentially sparing Tallahassee, which has a metro population of approximately 395,000.

The National Hurricane Center has emphasized the life-threatening nature of the situation, warning that a Storm Surge Warning indicates a risk of inundation from rising waters moving inland over the next 36 hours. Evacuation orders have been issued as heavy winds and rain begin to impact the region. Tropical storm force winds were already felt Thursday afternoon, with flooding reported in areas like Siesta Key near Sarasota and Asheville, North Carolina, where a 7-inch deluge raised flooding concerns.

Rain has started battering places like Asheville, North Carolina, where a 7-inch deluge has raised flooding concerns.

With forecasts predicting tornadoes, damaging winds, and mudslides, emergencies have been declared by governors across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. President Biden has also declared a state of emergency for several states, sending the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Florida on Friday to assess the situation.

The storm has shifted to focus on the sparsely populated Big Bend area, characterized by fishing villages and vacation spots where the Panhandle and peninsula meet. Gas stations along the two-lane highway have closed, with many boarded up in preparation for the storm.

As a precaution, school districts and universities across the Gulf Coast have canceled classes, and airports in Tampa, Tallahassee, and Clearwater have closed, resulting in widespread flight cancellations throughout the region.

By Thursday afternoon, Hurricane Helene was located about 195 miles southwest of Tampa, moving north-northeast at 16 mph, with sustained winds exceeding 111 mph. The storm had already caused flooding in parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including the resort city of Cancun, where streets were inundated and trees were toppled.