As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Helene has strengthened into a hurricane and is forecast to become a major hurricane by Thursday morning. The storm will bring impacts to southwest Florida starting Wednesday afternoon.
MORE: NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Guide+
Helene has winds sustained of 80 mph with a forward movement toward the NNW at 10 mph. The sustained winds have increased since earlier today and the pressure has dropped, indicating further strengthening is expected.
A Storm Surge Warning has been issued.
A storm surge warning means that life-threatening levels of storm surge are possible in the advised area within the next 36 hours.
For coastal Collier, 2-4 feet of storm surge is possible. For Lee and Charlotte counties, 3-5 feet of storm surge is expected along the coast.
Because of the risk of storm surge, evacuations orders have been issued on Charlotte County's barrier islands.
If you live in an area prone to storm surge flooding it would be advised you find a safe place to be away from the immediate coastline on Thursday.
The forecast cone released on this system shown above, indicates the system becoming as strong as a Category 3 hurricane when off the Southwest Florida coast on Thursday.
After that, the storm is likely to remain a major hurricane as its center moves toward the northeast Gulf of Mexico. It is still expected to become a major hurricane at landfall, sometime Thursday afternoon or evening.
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A Tropical Storm Warning is active for all of Southwest Florida. This means tropical storm-force winds will be expected within the next 36 hours.
The wind threat to our area will increase the farther east the storm tracks and decrease the farther west the storm tracks. Expect gusts as high as 40 to 60 mph on Thursday with calmer conditions returning heading into the weekend.
Computer forecast models are in good agreement that the storm will make landfall on Florida's Big Bend or Panhandle.
Times of gusty thunderstorms along rain bands are likely to start as early as late Wednesday and then persisting through Thursday when the most impactful weather would be in our area.
Given the current data, there is the potential of rainfall totals to range from 3 to 5" in areas of western Collier, western Lee and western Charlotte Counties. Keep in mind our region is particularly vulnerable to flooding coming off our wettest summer on record, running 15 inches above average for the year so far.
Storm surge will also be a concern, primarily on Thursday when winds around the hurricane are likely to be onshore in our community.
School officials in Charlotte County announced Tuesday that school will be closed due to the expected arrival of Helene late this week.
"In response to the approaching Tropical Storm Helene, Charlotte County Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27 , to ensure the safety of students and staff. This decision has been made in coordination with local emergency management officials and is part of the district’s commitment to safeguarding the community," the district said in a statement.
Sandbags are also being made available across much of Southwest Florida. A list of sandbag locations can be found here .
Elsewhere in the tropics, we're also keeping tabs on a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa with an 80 percent chance for development. Another area in the central subtropical Atlantic has a low chance for development but is tracking east, away from the U.S.
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