Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida

UPDATE 11:35 p.m.

After hours of traveling towards the United States as a Category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene has made landfall in Florida.

The storm hit the area of Perry, Florida at 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, the AP reports.

As it moved through the Big Bend area it had a maximum wind speed of 140 mph.

More than 885,000 people in Florida are without power.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE 9/26/24 7:00 p.m.

Hurricane Helene has been upgraded to a major Category 4 Storm as it heads towards land.

According to reports by the Associated Press, the hurricane could reach winds over 130 mph that can severely damage homes, snap trees and down power lines.

Photos: Floridians prepare for Hurricane Helene

As of 7:00 p.m. nearly 300,000 power outages were reported in Florida. There were over 15,000 power outages in North Carolina and over 11,000 in Georgia.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> More deadly than wind, storm surge from Hurricane Helene could be devastating

A storm surge warning was issued for almost all of Florida’s west coast and a state of emergency was issued for 61 of the state’s 67 counties, NBC News reports.

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