More than 230 people have been killed from Hurricane Helene, which unleashed devastation across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
Helene, which made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a massive Category 4 hurricane, has become the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
Tropical Storm Helene is nearing hurricane strength Wednesday morning as it churns just of the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Helene satellite map seen here .
ABC News
Helene is about 100 miles west-southwest from the western tip of Cuba.
-ABC News’ Max Golembo
Sep 25, 2024, 6:09 AM EDT
Tropical storm forecast to 'rapidly' intensify into major hurricane
Tropical Storm Helene was expected to "rapidly" strengthen and grow in size as it moved on Wednesday into the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. weather officials said.
An ABC News graphic shows the forecast for Tropical Storm Helene on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.
ABC News
The storm as of about 4 a.m. local time had maximum sustained winds of about 65 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. It was expected to intensify into a hurricane on Wednesday, before further strengthening into a "major" hurricane on Thursday, the center said.
Helene early Wednesday was traveling northwest at about 9 mph, the center said.
"On the forecast track, the center of Helene will pass near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula this morning, move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico on later today and Thursday, and reach the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday," the center said.
-ABC News' Max Golembo and Kevin Shalvey
Sep 24, 2024, 9:55 PM EDT
Biden approves Florida emergency declaration ahead of Helene's landfall
As Florida residents prepare for Tropical Storm Helene to make landfall Thursday, the White House has approved the state's emergency declaration.
President Biden's approval allows for federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will coordinate all federal disaster relief efforts, according to the White House's statement.
Biden's approval Tuesday comes as officials in Sarasota County announced a Level A evacuation order for portions of two neighborhoods beginning Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Officials encouraged residents in Curry Creek, Hatchett Creek, Venice and those in Forked Creek, Englewood to be aware of the conditions and stay alert for further updates.
Sep 24, 2024, 5:34 PM EDT
Hurricane warnings issued for portions of Florida's Panhandle, Big Bend and Gulf Coast
On the current track, Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to make landfall late Thursday night, between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. ET, as a major Category 3 hurricane with winds up to 115 mph in the Florida Big Bend region.
Latest alerts for Hurricane Helene
ABC News
Hurricane warnings have been issued for Florida's Panhandle, Big Bend and Gulf Coast regions and hurricane watch warnings have extended into southern Georgia.
Forecast path for Hurricane Helene
ABC News
Officials have issued tropical storm warnings from Naples and Fort Myers to Orlando and tropical storm watch warnings are in place across Florida's east coast up to Savannah, Georgia.