Tropical storm “Helene” in the Caribbean Sea is rapidly strengthening and is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday, with its path moving north along the coast of Mexico. The states of Florida and Georgia in the United States have declared a state of emergency, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and schools to shut down.
The National Hurricane Center in the United States forecasts that as the storm passes over the Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, it will reach “close to hurricane strength” and then “strengthen and expand in size” as it moves northward through the Gulf of Mexico. Starting from Wednesday, the southeastern United States can expect heavy rainfall, while the entire west coast of Florida will face “life-threatening storm surge”.
The hurricane center stated that “Helene” is expected to become a strong hurricane, reaching category three or higher, when it reaches the Gulf Coast of Florida on Thursday. Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and the northwest coast of Florida, with storm surges expected to reach up to 15 feet (4.5 meters).
Areas in western Florida and western Cuba have also been placed under a hurricane watch, including the Tampa Bay region. Meteorologists advise residents in warning and watch areas to prepare for power outages and stock up on at least three days’ worth of food and water.
Larry Kelly, an expert at the hurricane center, warned, “This will be a very large system that will impact the entire state of Florida.”
Several coastal counties in the western and northwest regions of Florida have issued evacuation orders. Multiple school districts, including those in Tampa and around the state capital of Tallahassee, plan to either close schools or shorten class times starting from Wednesday.
Some residents have started filling sandbags early to prepare for expected flooding and are beginning to leave coastal areas.
Residents in Florida experienced the impacts of hurricanes Idalia and Ian last year, resulting in many losing their homes. Cathie Perkins, the Emergency Management Director of Pinellas County, warned of the potential for severe flooding surpassing what was seen during hurricanes Idalia and Ian.
Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in most counties of Florida, while Governor Brian Kemp made a similar declaration in Georgia. DeSantis confirmed that at least 3,000 members of the Florida National Guard are ready to assist with storm response, and the state guard has been activated. In addition, hundreds of Starlink stations will be deployed within the state for internet access during disruptions.
President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency in Florida and dispatched FEMA teams to support local emergency responders in Florida and Alabama. Federal authorities are deploying generators, food, water, search and rescue teams, and power restoration crews.
The hurricane center anticipates that this storm will be unusually large and fast-moving, meaning storm surges, winds, and rainfall could affect areas further away from the storm’s center. Even inland areas in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana may experience heavy rainfall.
“Helene” has prompted NASA and SpaceX to postpone a scheduled manned launch until at least Saturday.
On Tuesday, the Cayman Islands experienced heavy rainfall and huge waves. Local authorities closed schools, airports, and government offices due to strong winds causing power outages in parts of Grand Cayman, while heavy rainfall and waves up to 10 feet (3 meters) led to flooding.
This is Mexico’s second hurricane this week, after Hurricane “John” struck the country’s southern Pacific coast, resulting in two fatalities, ripped roofs off homes, triggered mudslides, and toppled numerous trees.
Many in Cuba are concerned about the impending impact of “Helene,” which is expected to affect the capital city of Havana. Havana is currently facing severe water shortages, mountains of garbage, and prolonged power outages.
“Helene” is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1st. According to hurricane researcher Philip Klotzbach at Colorado State University, Florida has experienced eight major hurricane landfalls since 2000.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that due to record-high ocean temperatures, this year’s Atlantic hurricane season will be above average. It is expected that before the season ends on November 30th, there will be 17 to 25 named storms, including four to seven major hurricanes.
(This article referenced reports from the Associated Press and CNN)