Evacuations being ordered in Florida as state of emergency expands ahead of future Helene
The National Hurricane Center said the system is expected to intensify into a hurricane Wednesday and continue strengthening Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.
Hurricane Watches issued in Florida as Gulf Coast braces for likely Hurricane Helene
The first Hurricane Watches have been issued in Florida as the U.S. Gulf Coast prepares for significant impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, which will likely become major Hurricane Helene in the coming days.
UPDATE: Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine became Tropical Storm Helene on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Continue to follow the forecast and information on Helene by clicking here.
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Officials have begun ordering evacuations in parts of Florida on Tuesday as the U.S. Gulf Coast prepares for significant impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, which will likely become major Hurricane Helene in the coming days.
A potential tropical cyclone designation permits the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to issue routine advisories on a system that has not yet developed into a tropical depression or tropical storm, but brings the risk of 39-plus-mph winds to land within 48 hours.
Threat of life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds increasing in Florida
NHC closely watching Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 which will soon become Helene
Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, talks about the future of Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, which is expected to hit Florida later this week.
The NHC said Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to intensify to near-hurricane strength when it reaches the far northwestern Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, and will likely intensify into a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) as it approaches the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday.
"The potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Florida west coast is increasing," the NHC warned. "Residents should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place, and also follow advice given by local officials."
NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome told FOX Weather on Monday that over the past 24 hours, the computer forecast models have started to agree on a Florida landfall.
"It’s looking increasingly likely that this is going to be primarily a Florida impact and potentially a significant one at that," he said. "Our initial forecast showed a borderline Category 2/Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson (Wind) Scale as it makes landfall."
State of emergency declared in Florida as officials order evacuations
![This image shows Florida residents filling sandbags ahead of likely Helene in the coming days. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine was designated in the Caribbean on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and the system is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this week as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.]()
Image 1 of 3This image shows Florida residents filling sandbags ahead of likely Helene in the coming days. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine was designated in the Caribbean on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and the system is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this week as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. (@LeonCounty/ X)
![This image shows Florida residents filling sandbags ahead of likely Helene in the coming days. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine was designated in the Caribbean on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and the system is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this week as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.]()
Image 2 of 3This image shows Florida residents filling sandbags ahead of likely Helene in the coming days. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine was designated in the Caribbean on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and the system is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this week as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. (@LeonCounty/ X)
![This image shows Florida residents filling sandbags ahead of likely Helene in the coming days. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine was designated in the Caribbean on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and the system is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this week as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.]()
Image 3 of 3This image shows Florida residents filling sandbags ahead of likely Helene in the coming days. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine was designated in the Caribbean on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, and the system is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this week as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. (@LeonCounty/ X)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Monday that declared a state of emergency for 41 of the state’s 67 counties to help agencies prepare for the incoming storm. On Tuesday, he said he had expanded the declaration to cover 61 counties and had asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a pre-landfall federal disaster declaration.
"We will continue to monitor the storm’s path and keep Floridians updated," DeSantis said on X. "Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be prepared as possible for the storm."
Evacuations are expected along Florida's Gulf Coast, especially in the Big Bend region.
Mandatory countywide evacuation order anticipated in Taylor County as Florida braces for future Helene
The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office said it is anticipating issuing a countywide mandatory evacuation order later in the morning on Tuesday as Florida continues to prepare for significant impacts from future Hurricane Helene.
Officials in Franklin County said a mandatory evacuation is being ordered effective noon Tuesday for all the barrier islands, including St. George Island, Dog Island, Bald Point and Alligator Point. The order also covers all low-lying, flood-prone areas along the coast and rivers. Mobile homes and RVs should also be evacuated, officials said.
In Taylor County, officials said they anticipate issuing evacuation orders Tuesday.
"The Taylor County Sheriff's Office is anticipating issuing a Mandatory County Wide Evacuation Order Tuesday after the 11:15 a.m. briefing with the National Weather Service," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. "Please use this time to activate your evacuation plans and be ready to go."
In Leon County, which is home to Florida’s state capital of Tallahassee, sandbags were being offered to residents in anticipation of heavy precipitation and flooding from future Helene.
The city of Tallahassee is also making other preparations, with crews checking areas that are known to flood, removing obstructions from storm drains and posting warnings for drivers.
WHAT TO PUT IN AN EMERGENCY KIT
Florida's east coast also preparing for potential impacts from future Hurricane Helene
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to become a major hurricane as it approaches the Gulf Coast of Florida, and people across the state are preparing for impacts. FOX 35 Orlando Reporter Morgan Parrish was in Edgewater, Florida, on Tuesday morning where residents on the state’s east coast also prepare for the storm’s effects.
"Should roads be impacted, all motorists should use caution and not drive through flooded areas or around barricades," city officials wrote on their website.
Utility crews were also preparing for the storm, and extra crews are on standby in case their services are needed.
Impacts from future Hurricane Helene are also expected to stretch far beyond Florida into the Southeast because the system will move faster after landfall.
"It’s going to be booking it when it moves over Florida," Rhome said. "What that allows a storm to do is spread those strong winds farther inland than one might normally expect."
What's the latest with Potential Tropical Cyclone 9?
(FOX Weather)
As of the latest advisory from the NHC, Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is located about 150 miles west of Grand Cayman and 200 miles south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, and it is moving to the northwest at 9 mph.
WHAT TO PUT IN AN EMERGENCY KIT
Where are watches and warnings in effect because of Potential Tropical Cyclone 9?
(FOX Weather)
With the latest NHC advisory, Hurricane Watches have been issued for portions of Florida from Englewood to Indian Pass, as well as for Tampa Bay.
A Storm Surge Watch is also in effect from Indian Pass southward to Flamingo, as well as Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
Tropical Storm Watches were issued for the Dry Tortugas, the Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge, from Flamingo to south of Englewood and west of Indian Pass to Walton Bay County Line. This includes the Orlando area in central Florida.
FORECASTERS TRACKING 2 AREAS OF CONCERN FOR TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ATLANTIC
Where is Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 going?
(FOX Weather)
According to the NHC, Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to continue on a northwestward track Tuesday and Tuesday night, followed by a faster northward or north-northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.
The NHC said the center of the system is forecast to move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea through Tuesday night and then track across the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday.
It's expected to intensify into a hurricane Wednesday and continue strengthening Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico.