Hurricane Helene updates: Death toll surpasses 230 as rescue efforts continue

Hurricane Helene has officially made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a major Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds.

The storm touched down near Perry, Florida, just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River.

This marks the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend Region since at least 1859.

There are over 970,000 customers without power in Florida, according to poweroutages.us.

Category 4 Hurricane Helene is closing in on landfall, which will likely happen within the hour. Winds remain sustained at 140 mph with gusts to 155 mph in the eye wall of this storm.

Helene is producing catastrophic winds that will be spreading onshore in Florida's Big Bend region over the next few hours.

Major flooding is happening as of 10 p.m. ET in the Tampa area, with over six feet of inundation.

"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," the National Hurricane Center said in an alert Thursday.

"Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions," the statement concluded.

Hurricane Helene has grown stronger as it nears landfall, with sustained winds of 140 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 9 p.m. ET, the hurricane was 65 miles west of Cedar Key, Florida, and 90 miles south of Tallahassee.

The hurricane is moving at 24 mph and is still on track to make landfall between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.

The National Weather Service issued an extreme wind warning for three cities in the Tallahassee area on Thursday night.

The warning is in effect until midnight in Perry, Madison and Monticello.

"Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!" the agency said.