The state of Florida received this Tuesday Helene as a tropical storm, with maximum winds of 60 mph, and is estimated to hit the area on Thursday as a major hurricane, according to the us weather services.
Tropical Storm Helene, which is located in the Caribbeanwill rapidly intensify as it passes through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Mexicohe indicated National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The agency expects it to become a hurricane on Wednesday and reach Category 3 strength on Thursday before hitting Florida in the southeastern United States.
What the authorities say
Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, declared a state of emergency in 41 of the 67 counties, mobilized to the National guard and evacuations were ordered in Sarasota and Charlotte.
School closures were also announced in Hillsborough and Pinellas.
“Helene’s large size will likely cause a wide area to be affected by the storm’s hazards,” the NHC said in its latest bulletin.
In addition to hurricane-force winds, the agency anticipates heavy rainswith the possibility of “life-threatening” flash flooding and storm surge in Florida.
In it southeastern USA Between 12 and 25 centimetres of rain will be produced, with isolated maximums of 38 centimetres in some cases.
“These precipitations will likely result in to areas of significant flash and urban floodingwith areas of significant river flooding” the NHC said.
They also warned: “There may be landslides in areas of steep terrain in the southern Appalachians.”
If the forecasts are confirmed, Helene will be the Major hurricane in hitting USA in more than a year.
The last to reach this magnitude in the country was Idaliawhich hit the northwest of the state in August 2023 as a Category 3.
Helene’s displacement zones
There are signs that it will head north on Wednesday, after it passed through the strait between the Peninsula of Yucatan and the western end of Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico.
The hurricane is accelerating its advance before making landfall on Thursday in northern Florida. According to forecasts from the website Zoom Earthwould impact about Tallahassee.
Then it will cross the center of Georgiafrom south to north, to continue along the east of Tennessee and on Saturday the north-central Kentucky.
Because of its size, its effects – winds, rain and storm surge – are expected to affect a vast region, even several kilometers away from its center.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and will end on November 30, has been less intense than expected.
Researchers say it is likely that the climate change influence the rapid intensification of storms since, in a warmer ocean, they find more energy to thrive.
Source: Ambito
