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Hurricane Helene strengthens to Cat 2; Okaloosa expects rain and gusty winds

Hurricane Helene intensifies to Category 2, threatening Florida's Big Bend. Okaloosa County expects indirect impacts with periods of rain and gusty winds.
Tropical Tidbits

Hurricane Helene rapidly intensified into a Category 2 storm early Thursday, prompting urgent warnings for residents along Florida’s Gulf Coast to complete preparations as the powerful system approaches.

  • As of 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported Helene’s maximum sustained winds had increased to 100 mph. The storm was located about 320 miles southwest of Tampa and 365 miles south of Apalachicola, moving north-northeast at 12 mph.

Forecasters expect Helene to continue strengthening, likely becoming a major hurricane before making landfall on Florida’s Big Bend coast Thursday evening or early Friday morning.

“Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening,” the NHC stated in its advisory this morning. “Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”

A life-threatening storm surge warning is in effect for much of Florida’s west coast, from Mexico Beach to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. The NHC warns that water levels could reach 15 to 20 feet above ground in some areas between Carrabelle and the Suwannee River.

  • Hurricane warnings extend from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach, with tropical storm warnings covering a broader area including the Florida Keys and parts of Cuba.

Heavy rainfall is expected to cause flash flooding and urban flooding across the southeastern U.S., with 6 to 12 inches of rain forecast and isolated totals up to 18 inches possible. The NHC warns of significant river flooding and numerous landslides in the southern Appalachians.

  • The risk of tornadoes is increasing, particularly in northern Florida, southeast Georgia, and parts of the Carolinas.

In Okaloosa County, Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox reported that while the area is not under a tropical storm warning, residents should still expect periods of rain and gusty winds.

“We’ll still experience periods of rain and gusty winds, but no tropical storm warning for Okaloosa at this time,” Maddox stated in a morning update. “This doesn’t mean a dry, sunny day for us.”

As Helene approaches, officials stress the importance of following evacuation orders and taking all necessary precautions to protect life and property.

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Community Comments

“The Big U! The NMU supplied the unlicensed crew and when we lost this ship and its jobs and when U.S. Lines went bankrupt, we were on our way to...”
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“Highschool is finna be more crowed now. We need another highschool not a middle or elementary school.”
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“This is bittersweet. I spent a wonderful week in Cay Sal Banks on the Pilot in 2006. I will have to go pay her a visit soon....”
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“I agree with Jerome. What will this accomplish since both ends are only 4 lanes?”
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“The parking lot at McGuires would disappear along with the parcel that Destin purchased at the bridge.. Flooding on Okaloosa Island would close an expensive update to 98 , at...”
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“This will not make a difference for traffic passing through the center of Destin along Rt. 98. The smart option is to complete the Brooks Bridge and intersection in Ft...”
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“Doesn’t it still end up with 4 lanes on either end after bridges? Seems more aesthetic than a traffic plan. Which is nice too but does it increase the function?”
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“It would be a money pit let’s sink it for the tourists who we don’t have enough of so more will come”
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“Traffic moves pretty well on that stretch of 98, I don't see the need to waste the money. Maybe do something to deal with the traffic in Destin, and Mary...”
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