"Gargantuan" Hurricane Helene could bring "catastrophic and deadly storm surge" to parts of Florida Gulf Coast

Hurricane Helene is strengthening mainly because it moves over the eastern Gulf of Mexico toward a forecast Thursday night or early Friday morning landfall in excess of Florida's Large Bend Coastline and is "anticipated to convey catastrophic winds and storm surge towards the northeastern Gulf Coastline," the Countrywide Hurricane Center explained early Thursday. "Preparations to shield existence and residence ought to be rushed to completion," the center urged.

The National Weather Service warned in a post on X that, "A catastrophic and lethal storm surge is probably going together parts from the Florida Massive Bend Coastline, where by inundation could attain as substantial as twenty toes above ground level, as well as damaging waves. There is also a danger of existence-threatening storm surge alongside the rest with the west Coastline with the Florida Peninsula. People in those locations must comply with assistance supplied by area officers and evacuate if explained to to take action."