Hurricane Helene intensified into a hurricane on Wednesday as it exited the Caribbean Sea, heading toward Florida’s Gulf Coast. It is anticipated to grow stronger while traversing the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
On Wednesday morning, the storm recorded maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The center categorizes hurricanes on a five-level scale, with storms classified as Category 3 or higher, having sustained winds over 110 mph, considered major hurricanes.
Jamie Rhome, a deputy director at the hurricane center, reported that significant strengthening is likely in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, potentially elevating it to a Category 3 storm.
In preparation for the storm, Florida issued various watches and warnings.
Earlier in the week, President Biden and Governor Ron DeSantis declared emergencies for the state, prompting evacuation orders in several counties.
Officials at the University of Tampa were working to evacuate all residential students by Wednesday afternoon.
Helene is expected to make landfall on Thursday, and Rhome expressed concern that southern Georgia could be significantly affected, regardless of where the storm’s center lands.
The unusually warm water in the Gulf is expected to enhance the storm’s intensity. Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, noted that the ocean heat content in the Gulf is at an all-time high. Warm water is crucial for the strengthening of tropical systems.
In Helene’s projected path, sea surface temperatures reach as high as 89 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.
Climate Central reports that these record temperatures are significantly influenced by human-induced climate change.
In 2024, the North Atlantic Ocean has recorded unusually high temperatures, absorbing 90% of the excess heat caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
