Tropical Storm Warning: Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto and Charlotte County

Storm Surge Warning: Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte County

Flood and hurricane warning for the entire Suncoast region

Flood Warning: Little Manatee River near the Manatee County-Hillsborough line.

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – As of 8 p.m., Hurricane Helene is still a strengthening Category 1 hurricane in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center reports a four millibar drop in pressure to 974, indicating some strengthening since the 5 p.m. update. It is located just north of the Yucatan Peninsula and moving north at 12 mph. It will eventually take a northeast turn and rapidly strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane. It is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Thursday evening as a major hurricane.

Maximum sustained winds will be 85 mph with stronger gusts. As Helene moves northward through the Gulf, it is expected to strengthen significantly.

Heavy rain is expected to continue as Helene’s outer rainbands continue to move across the Suncoast. As the storm moves north, its core will remain offshore, but its very large wind field means that most of Florida will experience significant impacts. Tropical storm warnings, hurricane warnings, and storm surge warnings remain in effect for the Suncoast.

As the outer bands continue to move through tonight and tomorrow, tornado warnings are possible. Flooding from locally heavy rain is possible, and tropical storm-force winds of 39-73 mph will move into the Suncoast Wednesday night and continue into Thursday. The strongest wind impacts are expected near the coast, but heavy rain and localized flooding are also possible further inland.

Conditions are expected to worsen overnight, with the most dangerous winds and rain occurring during the day on Thursday.

The Suncoast is also expected to experience significant storm surge as the storm approaches. Peak storm surge forecasts are as follows:

5–8 feet … from the middle of Longboat Key north to the Anclote River, including all of Tampa Bay.

4–7 feet … from the middle of Longboat Key through Sarasota and then south to Englewood.

3–5 feet … south of Englewood, including Charlotte Harbor.

Severe impacts on the Suncoast should subside Friday as the storm quickly moves north.

Helene is expected to move very quickly northward through the eastern Gulf of Mexico, making landfall in the Big Bend region as a Category 4 major hurricane on Thursday evening. Hurricane warnings are in effect for the Big Bend and Panhandle regions of Florida. Storm surges of up to 20 feet could occur in the Big Bend region, and sustained hurricane-force winds will also occur inland.

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