Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm near Perry, FL just after 11 p.m. 

Helene formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, Sept. 24. It's the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and the fifth hurricane. It is the second major (Category 3+) hurricane of the season.

What You Need To Know

  • Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday evening near Perry, FL

  • It made landfall with winds of 140 mph

  • Helene will move inland bringing rain and wind to the southeast

Helene maintained its Category 4 strength at landfall with winds of 140 mph. Landfall happened at 11:10 p.m. near Perry, FL along Florida's Big Bend. Helene is a large storm and impacts were felt throughout the entire state of Florida and southeast. 

As it moves inland, the wind and rain will impact the southeast. 

The risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds will be on-going through Friday morning along portions of the Gulf Coast, especially the Florida Panhandle and Florida's west coast.

Water has been reported over waterways around the Tampa region. 

Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings are in effect across Florida and the Southeast. This is a large storm, with hurricane-force winds extending outwards of 60 miles from the center. The tropical storm-force winds extend over 300 miles from the center. 

Along with hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge is expected and Storm Surge Warnings have been issued along Florida's Gulf Coast. Storm surge will be highest in the Big Bend and Nature Coast area, with inundation up to 12 to 15 feet above ground level, with some areas just east of landfall seeing 15+ feet of storm surge.

Here's a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.

More Storm Season Resources

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