Hurricane Helene Landfall Time, Tracker Update As ‘Devastating’ Storm Nears

Hurricane Helene, a “devastating storm” making its way toward Florida, is to make landfall on Thursday night.
National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters expect Helene, which became a tropical storm on Tuesday morning, to bring “a catastrophic and deadly storm surge”, “hurricane-force winds” and “life-threatening flash and urban flooding.”
“This is going to be a devastating storm for many people and storm preparations need to be rushed to completion today,” storm chaser Colin McCarthy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
More From Newsweek Vault: Learn How to Build an Emergency Fund Quickly
Here is everything you need to know about the developing situation.
The hurricane is set to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region at 7:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, with one part of the state exposed to a “major hurricane,” according to the NWS’ latest advisory, issued at 10:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday.
More From Newsweek Vault: Online Banks vs. Traditional Banks: Learn the Differences
A “major hurricane” is a storm with a wind speed greater than 110 mph, rather than a standard hurricane which has a wind speed between 74 mph and 110 mph.
Parts of Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky are also expected to be hit by the storm center throughout the weekend.
More From Newsweek Vault: Learn More About the Different Types of Savings Accounts
In Georgia, a tropical storm (wind speed between 39 mph and 73 mph) is forecast to make landfall at 7:00 a.m. CDT on Friday. In Tennessee and Kentucky, a tropical depression (wind speed less than 39 mph) is expected to make landfall at 7:00 p.m. CDT.
These are the landfall times for the center of the storm but the NWS has warned that there can be hazardous conditions outside of the storm itself.
The hurricane was recorded in the Gulf of Mexico, above Cuba and on its way to Florida at 1:00 a.m. CDT on Thursday, with tropical storm conditions hitting the surrounding areas.
On top of the storm’s center making its way inland from Florida’s Big Bend region, tropical storm conditions are forecast for the
There specific parts of Florida, Georgia Tennessee and Kentucky that the storm’s center is set to travel through over the weekend but tropical storm conditions cover other parts of the states,
While the storm’s center is set to travel through specific parts of Florida, Georgia Tennessee and Kentucky, tropical storm conditions are forecast for other areas – Florida’s East Coast as well as the whole of Georgia’s and South Carolina’s coastlines.
Fox35Orlando’s meteorologist Noah Bergren wrote on X how Helene’s path and its “major impact” forecast is “actually rare for this side of the world.”
He said: “This is called the ‘Fujiwara Effect’ — notice how major hurricane Helene gets boomeranged NW and around a low pressure aloft over west TN. Think like two planets orbiting each other than consolidating into one. This complicated, and uncommon meteorological process will help keep the forward speed of the remnants very high. Destructive wind gusts throughout central Georgia, Atlanta area and east TN.”
The NWS has stressed that “preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday” in light of the dangerous conditions forecast.
Several places in Florida’s Big Bend region are being evacuated, with the following counties under mandatory evacuation orders:
This is according to the most recent information posted by FloridaDisaster.org. You should check your local authority for details and live updates. Other counties have issued voluntary evacuation notices.