UPDATE: Helene Now A Category 2 – Helene Intensifying as It Targets Florida’s Big Bend

Update 745am – Helene strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane as it barrels across the Gulf of Mexico

Updated 5AM: Hurricane Helene continues to intensify in the Gulf of Mexico early on Thursday — giving residents of Florida’s Big Bend region just hours to get out before the life-threatening effects of a major hurricane.

At 5 am, Helene was about 350 miles southwest of Tampa and 385 miles south of Apalachicola.  Maximum sustained winds were 90 miles per hour, and Helene was moving north-northeast at 12 miles per hour.

All of South Florida remains under a tropical storm warning, and the Gulf coast from Flamingo up to Mexico Beach is under a storm surge warning.  There’s a hurricane warning from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach.

Helene is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane before landfall late Thursday evening or very early Friday morning.  The hurricane will also begin to accelerate on Thursday — so the hurricane warning area will feel the effects of this very large hurricane long before actual landfall.

In South Florida, Thursday’s weather will be windy with periods of tropical storm force winds and heavy rain.  The Naples area can expect up to 5 feet of storm surge, and the Keys can expect coastal flooding.  Heavy rain is expected to lead to localized flooding in low-lying areas around South Florida.  Conditions will slowly improve in South Florida on Friday.

Thursday’s weather is dominated by Hurricane Helene as it passes west of South Florida.  Tropical storm conditions are expected along the Gulf Coast and in the Lower and Middle Keys, including storm surge flooding, potentially damaging winds, periods of heavy rain, and the possibility of an isolated tornado.  The East Coast metro area and the Upper Keys can expect very windy conditions with tropical storm force gusts, periods of heavy rain, and the possibility of an isolated tornado.  All of South Florida will see a high risk of dangerous rip currents and hazardous surf conditions on Thursday and Friday.  Highs on Thursday will be in the very humid upper 80s.

Friday will be breezy and cloudy, with plenty of morning showers and afternoon and evening storms.  Expect a high risk of dangerous rip currents through at least Friday evening.  Friday’s highs will be mostly in the low 90s in the east coast metro area and in the upper 80s along the Gulf Coast and in the Keys.

Saturday will bring a mix of sun and clouds with periods of showers and storms, especially in the afternoon.  Saturday’s highs will be mostly in the low 90s in the East Coast metro area and near 90 degrees along the Gulf Coast and in the Keys.

Sunday will feature mostly sunny skies with periods of showers and storms during the mid to late afternoon.  Sunday’s highs will be in the low 90s in the East Coast metro area and near 90 degrees along the Gulf Coast and in the Keys.

Monday’s forecast calls for good sun, some clouds at times, and a few showers and storms in spots.  Highs on Monday will be in the low 90s.

Hurricane Helene is gaining strength as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.  At midday on Wednesday, Helene was moving north-northwest at 10 miles per hour, and it had maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour — but rapid intensification and expansion of the wind field are expected before landfall Thursday evening in Florida’s Big Bend area.  There’s a hurricane warning from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach and a storm surge warning from Indian Pass along the entire Gulf coast to Flamingo.

Elsewhere, the wave in the eastern Atlantic west of the Cabo Verde Islands has a high chance of becoming a tropical depression as it moves generally to the west-northwest, remaining far from land.  And there’s an area of low pressure well to the northeast of Bermuda.  This feature has a low chance of developing, but it could affect the Azores early next week.