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

Hurricane Helene's landfall is expected in the next few hours -- likely between 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. -- as a major Category 4 in Florida's Big Bend region.

As of 8 p.m. ET, hurricane-force gusts extend outward 60 miles from the center of the storm and tropical storm-force gusts extend outward 310 miles from the center.

Some additional strengthening is possible before the center reaches Florida's coast on Thursday.

Although weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, the storm is moving fast and it is powerful. Damaging wind gusts will penetrate well inland across the Southeastern states.

Ahead of Helene's landfall, there was a 76 mph gust reported in St. Pete.

Hurricane Helene is headed toward Florida's Big Bend region as a dangerous Category 4 storm.

As of 7 p.m. ET, Helene carried maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

A Weatherflow station at Egmont Channel near the entrance of Tampa Bay recently reported sustained winds of 54 mph and a wind gust of 71 mph.

Tropical storm conditions are approaching the coastline of Florida's Big Bend.

A Weatherflow station at St. George Island recently reported a wind gust of 46 mph.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has declared a public health emergency in Florida ahead of Hurricane Helene’s landfall.

Becerra said about 150 emergency responders, as well as medical equipment and supplies, would be deployed "to help protect the delivery of health care services in the storm's path."

"We will do all we can to assist Florida officials with responding to the health impacts of Hurricane Helene," said Becerra. "We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support."

As Hurricane Helene nears landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday night, it strengthened into a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds.

As of 6:20 p.m. ET, the hurricane was located 120 miles west of Tampa and 165 miles south of Tallahassee. The storm was traveling northeast at 23 mph.

Landfall is forecast between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET Thursday evening.