Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall in Florida's Big Bend as Category 4 Storm with 140 mph Winds

Sep 26, 2024, 10:20 PM

Hurricane Helene has made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a pressure of 938 mb. The hurricane, which intensified rapidly from a Category 1 to a Category 4, is the strongest on record to hit the Big Bend area since 1851. The National Hurricane Center reported landfall at approximately 11:10 PM EDT near Perry, Florida, about 10 miles west-southwest of the mouth of the Aucilla River. The storm is expected to bring a catastrophic storm surge of up to 20 feet, heavy rainfall, and widespread power outages across the region. Residents are bracing for life-threatening conditions as the storm continues to move inland.