Live updates: Hurricane Helene hits Category 4 as Manatee County feels storm impact

Manatee County is feeling the impacts of Hurricane Helene on Thursday.

Helene soared in strength from a Category 2 hurricane Thursday morning to a Category 4 by Thursday evening.

As of 6:20 p.m., U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters measured sustained winds of 135 mph inside the storm. It was located about 120 miles west of Tampa. Tropical storm force winds extended 310 miles from its center, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm is forecast to blast Florida’s Gulf Coast with storm surge and powerful winds as it steams toward a predicted landfall in the Big Bend region Thursday night as a Category 4 storm with “catastrophic and deadly” storm surge.

Life-threatening storm surge is forecast for other parts of the Gulf Coast, including Southwest Florida. Bradenton-area residents should be prepared for 5 to 8 feet of storm surge and tropical storm force winds of up to 73 mph, with higher gusts possible, forecasters say.

Manatee County officials said storm surge of 3 feet had already been detected as of Thursday morning.

The latest weather forecast has lower rainfall totals for Bradenton and Anna Maria Island than originally expected. Meteorologists say the area should see 2 to 4 inches, with higher amounts possible.

Hurricane forecasters emphasized Thursday that Helene is a “very large storm.”

Comparing the system with previous hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico over the past couple of decades, Helene is at the upper bound in terms of size,” NHC forecasters wrote. “As a result, storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts will extend far away from the center and well outside the forecast cone, particularly on the east side.”

Storm surge to peak late Thursday night

Storm surge in Manatee County should peak between 10 p.m. and midnight, Manatee County Government shared in an update Thursday night.

“Waters should then begin to recede after the surge peaks,” the county said.

Storm surge on the north end of Anna Maria Island had reached around 5 feet just after 9 p.m., the City of Anna Maria shared in an update. Surge is expected to peak around 6.5 feet and recede out by 6 a.m. Friday, the city said.

On social media, island residents shared images of flooded streets, driveways, businesses and homes.

Bridges closed around Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay

Bridges and causeways around Bradenton and Anna Maria Island are closed Thursday night due to storm surge:

• The Anna Maria Bridge (also known as the Manatee Avenue Bridge) and the Cortez Bridge to Anna Maria Island are closed;
• Palma Sola Causeway is closed;
• The Green Bridge is closed; the DeSoto Bridge is open;
• The Sunshine Skyway remains closed;
• The Howard Frankland Bridge, Gandy Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are closed.

— 9:30 p.m.

Bridges closed around Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay

Bridges and causeways around Bradenton and Anna Maria Island are closed Thursday night due to storm surge:

• The Anna Maria Bridge (also known as the Manatee Avenue Bridge) and the Cortez Bridge to Anna Maria Island are closed;
• Palma Sola Causeway is closed;
• The Green Bridge is closed; the DeSoto Bridge is open;
• The Sunshine Skyway remains closed;
• The Howard Frankland Bridge, Gandy Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are closed.

“Now is the time to shelter’

“We are starting to see water on roads, that storm surge is coming in and wind speeds have picked up,” Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske said in a Thursday evening update. “Now is the time to shelter in place.”

Fiske said emergency services are operational. Residents should call 911 for emergencies.

— 6:50 p.m.

Tornado warnings in East Manatee

The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay issued a tornado warning for East Manatee County, including Parrish and Myakka City, until 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

‘At 4;57 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Myakka River State Park, or 12 miles northwest of North Port, moving north at 75 mph,” the NWS said in an advisory.

Another tornado warning was issued for Southeastern Manatee County until 5:45 p.m. Thursday.

The NWS gives the following advice in the event of a tornado:

• Take shelter in an interior room, avoiding windows and flood waters.

• If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

— 5 p.m.

‘Worst effects...still to come’

Hurricane Helene’s storm bands are swirling across Manatee County late Thursday afternoon with heavy rain and wind.

Manatee County officials are urging residents to take the storm seriously and seek safe shelter.

“The worst effects of the storm are still to come and will arrive suddenly,” Manatee County said in Facebook post. “If you live within evacuation Level A, please consider seeking higher ground now.”

— 4:30 p.m.

Residents check in at Manatee County shelters

Over 250 people have checked in at Manatee County shelters for Hurricane Helene, a county spokesperson said.

As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, there were 165 people sheltering at Lee Middle School in Bradenton, 56 people at Buffalo Creek Middle School in Palmetto and 45 people at the county’s shelter for individuals with special needs.

—3:30 p.m.

Manatee schools closed Friday

Manatee County school district officials announced that schools will remain closed until Monday due to Hurricane Helene.

District officials said three schools will serve as shelters until the storm passes.

Sports and after-school activities are canceled for Friday. Many of those events will be rescheduled for Saturday, officials said in a news release.

— 3 p.m.

SRQ flights canceled

Hurricane Helene has disrupted almost all flights at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, 16 arrivals and 16 departures were canceled at the airport.

But airport officials said they do not plan to close the airport ahead of the storm. Two Delta flights are expected to land at the airport Thursday evening.

“While the storm has caused the majority of today’s flights to cancel, we are thankful that we were able to remain open to allow a small number of flights to operate and get passengers through the airport safely,” Rick Piccolo, the airport’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

Airport officials urged travelers to check with their airlines on the latest status of their flights. For more information, visit www.FlySRQ.com .

— 2 p.m.

Sunshine Skyway closes

The Sunshine Skyway bridge is closed due to high wind as Hurricane Helene impacts Manatee County and Southwest Florida.

At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Florida Highway Patrol said wind gusts had reached 60 miles per hour at the Skyway and closed the bridge to traffic.

“Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes,” the agency said in a news release.

Troopers also urged drivers not to drive through flooded areas and to stay off roads entirely if possible.

“If traveling, please travel cautiously, avoid any flooded roadways, increase following distance and slow down,” FHP said.

Flooding has also been reported on roads around Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Local law enforcement agencies are urging residents to stay home as the storm passes on Thursday.

— 1:45 p.m.

Water shut off to Anna Maria Island

Manatee County officials have shut off potable water service to Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key ahead of Helene’s predicted storm surge.

The shutoff impacts Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and the Town of Longboat Key, all of which are under evacuation orders.

“This precautionary measure is being implemented to maintain the integrity of the water infrastructure,” Manatee County Government said in a news release. “Please understand this a necessary safety precaution to ensure that water line stays intact.”

Officials said water will restored when it is safe to do so.

— 11 a.m.

Evacuation orders issued, shelters open

Manatee County officials have issued evacuation orders for residents in Level A and a recommended evacuation order for residents in Level B. To check your zone, visit www.MyManatee.org/storm or www.FloridaDisaster.org/KnowYourZone .

Evacuation orders are issued depending on expected storm surge. Residents in evacuation Level A are the most vulnerable to storm surge and the first ordered to evacuate and residents in evacuation level E are the least vulnerable and the last ordered to evacuate.

Level A includes coastal areas as well as mobile homes, manufactured homes and RVs.

Two emergency shelters are open:

• Electa Arcotte Lee Middle School, 4000 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton
• Buffalo Creek Middle School, 7320 69th St. E., Palmetto

Manatee County Government’s website is experiencing technical issues on Wednesday morning, but evacuation zones and other emergency information can be found at Extreme-Weather-Dashboard-ManateeGIS.hub.arcgis.com .

Residents may call 311 for further information on evacuation zones or emergency resources.