“Very Dangerous” Hurricane Helene Barrels Towards U.S.

Helene is an expansive storm with hazards that are already extending hundreds of miles away from the center, and those hazards are going to play out in multiple forms over the next 24 hours.

National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Michael Brennan on the latest update of a “strengthening” Hurricane Helene – forecasts predict the storm will make landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida Thursday evening.

Why It Matters: The National Hurricane Center warns of a variety of threats including “substantial rain,” tornado watches/warnings, storms surge and high winds from a “very dangerous” Hurricane Helene. Helene is currently a Category 2 hurricane, but more strengthening is expected before the storm makes landfall as a major hurricane.

• Categories 1-5 refer to the wind strength of a hurricane (and potential damage). A storm doesn’t become a hurricane until winds hit 74 mph (Cat 1). A Category 2 storm = 96 mph – 110 p.m. Read HERE for more.

WATCH the Thursday 10 am CDT update.