LIVE: Helene an ‘extremely dangerous’ Category 4 hurricane as it nears landfall

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Helene has become a Category 4 hurricane and is nearing landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.

At 9 p.m., the NHC reported that Helene had maximum sustained winds of 140 and was located 65 miles west of Cedar Key while moving north-northeast at 24 mph.

Helene is expected to make landfall Thursday night in the Big Bend region, according to the NHC.

Video above: Watch live News Channel 8 coverage of Hurricane Helene

The storm is expected to bring “unsurvivable” storm surge of up to 20 feet to the Big Bend area, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, which called it a “nightmare surge scenario.”

Max Defender 8 Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli said residents in the Nature Coast and Big Bend should not take any chances and need to evacuate.

“You cannot survive 20 feet or even 15 feet of storm surge,” Berardelli said. “If you’re near the water and you know you’re going to flood, especially if you’re in a mobile home, too. You’ve got to go. You cannot take your chances. This is not survivable.”

Weakening is expected after Hurricane Helene makes landfall, but fast forward speed allows strong, damaging winds in gusts.

The next track update is at 11 p.m.

Watches and warnings

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…

• Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo
• Tampa Bay
• Charlotte Harbor

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

• Anclote River to Mexico Beach

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

• Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…

• Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas
• Flamingo to 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

Tropical Storm Isaac

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Isaac formed in the open subtropical Atlantic on Wednesday night.

The system is well east-northeast of Bermuda and will not impact North America.

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