Hurricane Helene is now a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward over 300 miles from its center as it approaches Florida.
As of 5 p.m., the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Helene was located approximately 130 miles west of Tampa and about 175 miles south of Tallahassee. It is currently moving north-northeast at 23 mph, according to thee NHC.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall in the Florida Big Bend this evening.
According to the NHC, the hurricane is expected to strengthen into a category 4 hurricane at landfall. It’s expected to weaken after it moves inland, but the fast forward speed will allow “strong, damaging winds, especially gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States.”
Currently, hurricane-force winds are extending outward up to 60 miles from the center of the storm.
A hurricane warning is in effect for western Marion County and a tropical storm warning is in effect for the central and eastern parts of Marion County.
A flood watch is in effect for both central and western Marion County through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
A tornado watch is also currently in effect in Marion County until 8 p.m. The watch includes the cities of Anthony, Ocala, Burbank, and Weirsdale.