by Mick the Ram

The state of Florida is bracing itself for what has been described as “life-threatening” weather, as Hurricane Helene gathered pace and is set to make landfall just to the south of the capital, Tallahassee on the Big Bend, late Thursday evening.

Several mandatory evacuation orders have been issued, which officials have urged people to heed, as destructive winds and significant storm surges of up to 20 feet above ground level are expected, from what is being predicted to have become a category 4 once it hits.

Michael Brennan, the director of the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), warned that conditions are going to deteriorate very quickly and the authorities are even suggesting the hurricane could be “catastrophic” and “unsurvivable” if caught in its path.

Power outages, tree damage and the obvious powerful and sustained roof tearing winds of over 100mph (155 km/h) are expected, accompanied by rainfall of up to 18 inches that will inevitably bring flash flooding in some regions.

Tampa and Tallahassee International Airports were both closed in anticipation and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed that search and rescue teams have been mobilised in the likely event that they will be called upon. He also clarified that shelters had been opened for residents in affected areas.

All across the south-eastern US preparations were frantically taking place as the storm headed their way. In Georgia, all public schools in Atlanta have been shut for the remainder of the week and the hurricane even affected the race for the White House, with the Republican candidate for vice-president, JD Vance, cancelling two events in Georgia that had been planned.  

Earlier, Hurricane Helene had passed Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula and the tourist resorts of Cancún, but fortunately those places were spared major damage as the storm just touched its north-eastern coast, but crucially failed to make landfall.

Hurricanes need sea surface temperatures of more than 27C (80F) to fuel them, meaning that with the waters of the Gulf currently at between 30-32C (86-89F), the sea surface is about three degrees Celsius above normal for the time of year and as a consequence, storms like Helene can easily occur.