WATCH: Tracking Hurricane Helene storm updates, Mark Robinson scandal, more news | LiveNOW from FOX

Hurricane Helene continues to gain strength and rapidly intensify along its journey into the Gulf of Mexico, where it’s expected to become a major hurricane ahead of an anticipated landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.

Nearly the entire state of Florida is under some sort of tropical weather alert, with Tropical Storm Watches extending hundreds of miles to the north into Georgia and the Carolinas, including cities like Atlanta.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says that because of Hurricane Helene’s massive size, there is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula, as well as Florida’s Big Bend region.

The highest inundation of 10 feet to as much as 15 feet is expected along the coast of the Big Bend, and residents are being urged to leave the coast for safety if told to do so by authorities.

Tampa Bay could see 5-8 feet of storm surge inundation under current forecasts.

Mandatory evacuations have already been issued for numerous counties in Florida, including Hillsborough County, which is where Tampa is located.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Tuesday declaring a state of emergency for 61 of the state’s 67 counties to help agencies prepare for the incoming storm.

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