Helene strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday, and weather officials warned it could become a Category 3 or 4 storm before making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday evening.

The National Hurricane Center warned that the storm will bring “life-threatening storm surges, devastating wind gusts and flooding” to much of Florida and the Southeast.

The governors of Florida, Georgia and North Carolina have declared states of emergency ahead of the arrival. Tampa International Airport announced it will suspend operations Thursday ahead of Helene’s arrival.

Multiple Florida counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders for people in low-lying areas. Residents in the potential path of the storm have been told to prepare for a week without power.

“This is a big, big storm,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference Wednesday. “A lot of people are going to lose power … be prepared for that.”

Where is the storm and what is its path?

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Helene, with sustained winds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h), is located about 110 miles (177 km) northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and 480 miles (778 km) southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving north-northwest at 10 mph (16 km/h).

The storm is expected to quickly strengthen and make landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds of more than 110 mph (178 km/h).

“Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where a hurricane warning is now in effect,” the hurricane center said. “Preparations to protect lives and property should be completed by Thursday morning.”

In addition to the strong winds, the storm will threaten millions of residents along the Gulf Coast with up to 12 inches of rainfall, as well as the possibility of tornadoes. Before moving into the Gulf of Mexico, Helene will bring heavy rains to parts of the western Caribbean, possibly causing mudslides and flooding in western Cuba. The system will also pose the threat of inland flooding in several U.S. states.

“Significant flooding and inundation is expected across portions of Florida, the Southeast, the southern Appalachians and the Tennessee Valley Wednesday through Friday,” the National Hurricane Center said.

The weather service warned that life-threatening storm surge could occur across the entire Florida peninsula.

How is Florida preparing?

DeSantis on Tuesday expanded the state of emergency to 61 counties ahead of the storm. Helene is expected to make landfall near the Big Bend region of the Florida Panhandle, which was battered by Hurricane Debby earlier this season.

The declaration gives the state the opportunity to implement its comprehensive emergency plan, allowing resources to be deployed for logistical, rescue or evacuation operations.

“Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be as prepared as possible for the storm,” DeSantis said in a message on X.

Many cities and counties in Florida have opened special areas where residents can fill sandbags in preparation for the storm.

Evacuation zones

Officials urged people in low-lying areas to check a website that lists evacuation zones and to follow evacuation orders. Mandatory evacuations were issued in 14 counties, including Pinellas and Hillsborough, as of Wednesday afternoon.

The University of Tampa, which is in one of the mandatory evacuation zones in Hillsborough County, said it is in the process of evacuating all residential buildings on campus.

According to the Tampa Bay Bay Times, many supermarkets in the Tampa area ran out of water on Tuesday as hurricane survivors stocked up on supplies.

And Tampa International Airport announced Thursday that it will suspend operations pending Helene’s arrival.

Warnings and cautions

Starting at 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, a hurricane warning was in effect for:

• Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida

• Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico

A “hurricane warning” means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. It is usually issued 36 hours before the expected arrival of tropical storm force winds.

A hurricane warning was in effect for:

• Province of Pinar del Río, Cuba

• From Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A “hurricane watch” means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch areas. It is usually issued 48 hours before the hurricane is expected.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for:

• Dry Tortugas

• All Florida Keys

• Florida’s West Coast from Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

• West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County border

• The East Coast of Florida from Flamingo North to South Santee River

• Lake Okeechobee

• Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico

• Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth

A ‘tropical storm warning’ means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning areas within the next 36 hours.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for:

A ‘tropical storm warning’ means that there is a chance of tropical storm conditions within the warning area.

A storm surge warning was in effect for:

A ‘storm surge warning’ indicates that there is a chance of life-threatening flooding, for example if water flows inland from the coast.

Biden approves Florida state of emergency

President Biden on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Florida, giving the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security authority to help state and local authorities coordinate disaster relief efforts.

In a statement, White House spokesman Jeremy Edwards said “federal assets and personnel are pre-positioned, including generators, food and water, along with search and rescue and power restoration teams.”

“FEMA has also sent teams to Florida and Alabama to join local emergency personnel to support their efforts, if needed,” Edwards added. “We urge residents in the storm’s path to remain vigilant.”