HURRICANE HELENE UPDATE: Storm intensifies into a Category 4 hurricane

Hurricane Helene is now a Category 4 storm as it is expected to bring damaging hurricane winds and storm surge Thursday evening to the Florida Bend.
As Hurricane Helene tracks toward Florida's Gulf coast, it's expected to bring "catastrophic" winds and storm surge to parts of the region, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for parts of Florida's Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area, ahead of potential impacts from the storm. It's expected to strengthen into a major hurricane, Category 3 or higher, sometime Thursday before landfall.
"Additional strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening," the NHC said.
As of the latest advisory, Hurricane Helene is 120 miles west of Tampa, and 165 miles south of Tallahassee. It's moving north-northeast at 23 mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.
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