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ORLANDO, Florida. – Helene strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday and is expected to strengthen further – possibly to a major Category 3 hurricane – before making landfall in Florida on Thursday. Helene is likely to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, torrential rains and flooding to parts of the Sunshine State.

Helene is the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. If it makes landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, it would be the third hurricane in the last two years to make landfall there (Hurricane Ian in 2022, Hurricane Idalia in 2023).

Here you can find the latest information on the expected path, cone, schedule, landfall and impacts of Hurricane Helene heading towards Florida.

Hurricane Helene was 85 miles from Cozumel, Mexico, and 500 miles from Tampa, Florida, according to the NHC update at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The storm is moving north-northwest at 10 mph, reaching maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.

The pressure is 979 mb.

Timeline: When is Hurricane Helene expected to reach Florida?

Hurricane Helene is expected to continue to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico and become a major hurricane (Category 3+) before making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Thursday evening.

Below is the current track (cone) from the NHC. After landfall, Helene is expected to weaken, but due to the storm’s size, speed, and strength, strong, destructive winds are possible across much of the inland southeastern United States.

Central Florida – Orlando and surrounding cities – will begin to feel the effects of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, including tropical storm force winds, heavy rains and possible tornado warnings.

When will the worst weather from Hurricane Helene occur in Central Florida?

The worst of the weather will be Thursday evening. Much of Central Florida will experience tropical storm force gusts, strong winds and heavy rain, with up to 4 inches of rainfall possible in some locations. There is also a chance of a tornado or two forming.

Here’s a county-by-county breakdown of what to expect.

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