Hurricane Helene strengthened again Thursday morning, and it is now a Category 3 hurricane having maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.
Both the storm’s magnitude and severity are increasing.
With a potentially fatal storm surge, it is predicted to make landfall in the Florida Big Bend tonight as a powerful hurricane in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
In Tampa Bay, storm surge may reach 4 to 7 feet, while in Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties, it may reach 6 to 15 feet.
Later this afternoon and into tonight, the surge will get stronger. From the Nature Coast northward, water levels may be among the highest seen in recent years.
Significant intensification is predicted until Helene hits the coast. The anticipated landfall strength is category 3; however, a category 4 cannot be ruled out.
All storm warning precautions should be completed as soon as possible.
A Tornado Watch is in force for the Florida Peninsula until 8 p.m.
What Areas in Florida Are Affected by Helene?
Mandatory evacuation orders in in place for the following counties: Gulf, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Taylor, Madison, Hamilton, Columbia, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte.
Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for the following counties: Union, Jackson, Gilchrist, Gadsden, Baker, and Alachua.
What Can the Tampa Bay Area Expect In Terms of Storm Surge?
At this point, it appears that the largest surge potential will occur during the evening low tide, which will be between 5 and 7 p.m. over most of the Tampa Bay area on Thursday.
The next high tide would not occur until after midnight, but by then the water should be falling because Helene would probably be weakening and moving away from the Bay area.
You should anticipate a surge of six to ten feet above the usual high tide level in the coastal counties of Citrus and Hernando.
Four to seven feet of surge is possible in coastal Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties (including Tampa Bay).
A 3–5-foot surge could be experienced by coastal manatee.
The lowest figure in this range is the most likely outcome, whereas the highest number (i.e. 10 ft for Nature Coast and 7 feet for Tampa Bay) is the worst-case scenario and considerably less likely to occur.
To put this into context, the coastal flooding could be very similar to what occurred during Idalia last year.
What Can the Tampa Bay Area Expect in Terms of Rainfall?
Rainfall will not be exceptionally heavy because Helene will be a fast-moving storm.
Experts say to expect 3 to 6 inches of rain, which could result in flash flooding.
Hurricane Helene: Important Safety Tips From Our Storm Damage Lawyers
As Hurricane Helene steadily approaches a large portion of Florida, preparation is key. Here are some important tips to remember:
- Have an exit strategy ready to go in case you must evacuate. Stay safe. You and your family’s health and well-being are the top priorities.
- If you do have to leave your home, make sure you have a copy of your insurance policy with you just in case.
- Take pictures and videos of your house, paying particular attention to the windows, roof, and furnishings.
- Contact our Florida Hurricane and Storm Damage Lawyers for help with any post storm damage to your property. We can walk you through everything that is needed to make a claim and what happens next.
We are available 24/7to assist you. You can contact us online anytime for a FREE consultation or call us at 866-608-5529.