Hurricane Helene made landfall on the west coast of the US state of Florida. The American National Hurricane Center announced this in the evening (local time). Shortly before, it had classified the cyclone as an “extremely dangerous hurricane” of the second highest Category 4.
With sustained winds of up to 140 miles per hour, the center of the storm was in the Big Bend region of northern Florida.
Power outage affects 975,000 homes in Florida
The American civil protection agency Fema had issued an urgent warning about the storm, which would affect several states. Storm surges of up to six meters high are expected on the Gulf of Mexico coast, says Fema boss Deanne Criswell. The entire west coast of Florida and the Big Bend region are particularly affected. According to data from the website Poweroutage.us, about 975,000 households in Florida were already without power that evening.
In recent days, ‘Helene’ has caused numerous floods and power outages in Cuba. Severe flooding has cut off several cities on the Caribbean island from the outside world.
Hurricane Ian killed 100 people two years ago
The arrival of “Helene” will likely bring back dark memories for many people in Florida. Two years ago, Hurricane “Ian” caused enormous damage there, killing more than 100 people. At that point, the center of the storm passed over densely populated areas in the southwestern part of the state, slamming into coastal cities with winds of about 150 miles per hour.
Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters. According to experts, increasing global warming increases the risk of severe storms. The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season starts on June 1 and lasts until November 30.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
