Hurricane Helene will hit the US in the coming days.
September brings hurricanes that devastate huge portions of Florida.
Hurricane Helene, a category four storm, is expected to do significant damage in the Sunshine State when it makes landfall on Thursday (September 26).
The National Hurricane Center predicts storm surges up to 20 feet on some areas, with Miami often experiencing the brunt of such storms.
The center warned: “The Florida Big Bend shoreline may experience a lethal storm surge 20 feet above ground level and destructive waves.
“Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday before tropical storm conditions arrive.”
Floridans preparing for the storm (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Helene was already delivering 90mph winds at 5am local time on Thursday, analysts said.
The hurricane center expects winds of at least 130mph later this afternoon.
Tropical storms are typical in Florida, but Helene is expected to do significant damage.
Hurricane specialist Michael Lowry predicts the hurricane will become one of the largest in the Gulf of Mexico in the previous century.
He wrote: “Only four named storms this century have been as large over the Gulf of Mexico (measured by the extent of tropical storm winds) as Helene is forecast to become by tomorrow: Irma (2017), Ike (2008), Ivan (2004) and Isidore (2002).”
Cuba is already damaged.
Due to hurricane risk, thousands of Floridians have been compelled to abandon their homes and even the state.
In an update on Wednesday (25 September), the Tallahassee National Weather Service warned that the storm surge threat is ‘catastrophic and/or potentially unsurvivable’ for Apalachee Bay residents.
Reports indicate significant damage further south, where vehicles have been submerged in the waters of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
In the latest developments, over 50,000 residents in Cuba’s province of Pinar del Río are currently experiencing power outages.
Feature Image Credit: (Canva)
