Hurricane Helene Declared ‘Unsurvivable’ as Experts Warn of Catastrophic Strike on Florida

The U.S. is bracing for devastation as Hurricane Helene barrels toward Florida, with meteorologists warning it could unleash catastrophic damage when it makes landfall.

Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center predict Helene will strengthen into a Category 4 storm by Thursday, September 26, when it slams into the Sunshine State. Along parts of Florida’s Big Bend coast, storm surge is expected to climb as high as 20 feet, a threat officials say could be “deadly and unsurvivable.”

“Complete Preparations Now,” Experts Urge

In its latest advisory, the NHC cautioned:
“A catastrophic and life-threatening storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday before tropical storm conditions arrive.”

By early Thursday morning, Helene was already churning with sustained winds of 90 mph, and meteorologists warned that its size and power place it among the most dangerous storms in decades.

Weather historian Eric Blake noted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Only four named storms this century have been as large over the Gulf of Mexico (measured by the extent of tropical storm winds) as Helene is forecast to become by tomorrow: Irma (2017), Ike (2008), Ivan (2004) and Isidore (2002).”

Evacuations Underway

Mandatory evacuations are sweeping across Florida, with thousands already fleeing their homes. The Tallahassee National Weather Service office issued one of its strongest-ever alerts for residents around Apalachee Bay, bluntly describing the storm surge threat as “catastrophic and potentially unsurvivable.”

Damage Already in Its Path

Helene has already left destruction in the Caribbean. In Mexico’s Quintana Roo region, cars were submerged as floodwaters swallowed city streets. In Cuba’s Pinar del Río province, more than 50,000 people lost electricity as the hurricane’s outer bands swept through.

As Helene pushes north, officials stress that time is running out. Floridians are being urged to take shelter, follow evacuation orders, and prepare for what could be one of the most destructive hurricanes to strike the state in recent history.