Hurricane Helene on the Move: Warning For Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe

Yo, South Florida, it’s time to stay alert. Hurricane Helene just leveled up fast and furious — becoming a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday, as it powered through the Caribbean Sea, now aiming straight for the U.S. ⚡️ It’s expected to slam into the Gulf Coast, and things are getting real in Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and even Palm Beach. Here’s what’s up:

Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Helene’s Stats Right Now

• Category 1
• Max Winds 85 mph
• Location About 460 miles SW of Tampa
• Size Rank In the 90th percentile, meaning it’s BIG. Like, huge.

What’s Happening?

Florida is gearing up for this. Counties from Miami to the Florida Keys are under tropical storm warnings, with tropical storm conditions expected soon. Schools are closed, people are bouncing from their homes, and local officials have hit that state of emergency button.

The storm is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late Thursday as a Category 3 hurricane. Yeah, that’s winds over 110 mph. Get ready for storm surges up to 18 feet in some places — that’s taller than a lot of houses.

Big Picture

• Landfall Late Thursday along Florida’s northwestern coast
• Hurricane Watch In effect for the upper Keys, western Cuba, and Tampa Bay
• States on High Alert Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and even as far as Kentucky and Indiana could get in on the rain action

Who’s Prepping?

Will Marx, a 64-year-old retiree in Crawfordville, Florida, is getting ready in his double-wide mobile home. He’s got extra water on deck and is watching his neighbors haul boats and RVs outta there. His vibe? “We’ll know tomorrow, I guess.”

Meanwhile, over in Mexico’s Quintana Roo, Governor Mara Lezama is sharing videos of Cozumel’s once-chill, turquoise waves now going rogue. Cancun’s beaches are taking a beating too.

Stay Safe and Plugged In

If you’re in the affected zones, now’s the time to grab those essentials and make sure your evacuation plan is set. Keep your phone charged, and stay glued to updates from local authorities, because Helene isn’t playing around.