Hurricane Helene reaches Category 2 strength

Hurricane Helene, expected to be one of the largest gulf hurricanes in decades, surged to Category 2 strength Thursday morning as it barreled toward land.

Helene was about 320 miles southwest of Tampa and moving north-northeast at about 12 mph as of 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Its maximum sustained winds were 100 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extended out up to 60 miles from the storm’s center, and tropical storm-force winds extended out up to 345 miles.

The Tampa Bay area was already experiencing the wide-reaching effects of Helene’s approach early Thursday.

Officials in Clearwater Beach shared photos of flooded roads and urged residents to heed evacuation orders issued Wednesday.

Tropical storm-force wind gusts are expected in the region by noon today, with peak gusts expected in the early evening, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.

Helene’s massive wind field could push life-threatening surge across much of Florida’s west coast, forecasters said.

Storm surge in the Big Bend region, where landfall is expected, was predicted to reach up to 20 feet, according to the hurricane center.

In Tampa Bay, surge predictions have held steady between 5 and 8 feet. The worst-case-scenario for surge in the area hinges on the storm coinciding with high tide, researchers say.

Forecasters also warned that Helene could rapidly intensify above previous predictions. Models indicated maximum sustained winds of about 132 mph, or a Category 4 hurricane, at Helene’s peak, though additional strengthening is still possible.

The storm is expected to pick up speed as it moves north or north-eastward through the Gulf of Mexico over the next 24 hours.

Strengthening could come from the Loop Current, which

remained in a moist, low-shear environment with high ocean heat content that could fuel Helene’s intensification.

Helene is expected to move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Thursday and make landfall on Florida’s Big Bend coast in the evening or early Friday morning.

The storm track had shifted roughly 30 miles to the east at landfall, models showed Thursday morning.

A glossary of warning and watch terms

A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within the next day or 1½ days.

A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area in the next 24 to 36 hours.

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, and is typically issued two days before tropical-storm force winds.

A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area, and is typically issued 36 hours before the first tropical storm-force winds.

A storm surge watch means there is the possibility of life-threatening inundation in the next 48 hours.

A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation within 36 hours.

A storm surge warning is in effect for Mexico Beach east and south to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Anclote River north to Mexico Beach

A hurricane watch is in effect for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood north to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas, Flamingo to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, west of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton county line, Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet, Lake Okeechobee, Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth

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