Hurricane Helene has maximum sustained winds of 130 mph as of 8 p.m. and is now a category 4 hurricane, producing tropical-storm-force winds up to 310 miles from its center.
According to a public advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Helene was located about 80 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key and about 115 miles south of Tallahassee as of 8 p.m.
The hurricane is currently moving north-northeast at 23 mph and is expected to continue to quicken as it passes through the Florida Big Bend.
A hurricane warning is currently in effect for western Marion County, while a tropical storm warning is in effect for the central and eastern parts of the county. A flood watch is in effect for central and western Marion County.
A tornado watch is in effect until 6 a.m. across the entire county as well.
After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.