Hurricane Helene becomes Category 3 as 'unsurvivable' storm surge could hit Florida

People navigate flooded streets in Cuba on Wednesday after Hurricane Helene struck. Credit: AP

Hurricane Helene has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm ahead of its expected landfall on Florida's coast, which could bring a potentially ‘unsurvivable’ storm surge.

Emergency declarations have been made across several US states and residents in low-lying areas have been forced to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Helene’s arrival.

Schools and most universities have also been closed.

Helene is expected to bring a storm surge as it touches down in Florida, with forecasts predicting up to six metres (20 feet) forecast on parts of the state's north-west coast.

“This forecast, if realised, is a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay,” the National Weather Service said.

Mandatory evacuation orders are in place with many people, including Eduardo Centeno, sheltering at evacuation centres. Credit: AP

Residents of Florida's Gulf Coast have already begun to feel Helene's winds, which have left around 100,000 homes and businesses already without power.

Winds could reach up to 110 miles per hour in the region with authorities also concerned damaging winds, rains and flash floods could affect much of the United States' south east.

The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have all declared emergencies in their states.

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Helene is tipped to be the biggest storm in years to hit the region, after already wreaking havoc across Mexico and the Caribbean.

Streets were flooded and trees toppled when Helene passed through Mexico's resort city of Cancun.

Neighbors chat on a flooded street in Guanimar, Cuba, Credit: AP

In Cuba, the government shut off power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses as waves reached five metres, while schools were also closed in the Cayman Islands with many residents forced to pump flooded water from their homes.

Helene formed Tuesday in the Caribbean sea, and is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began in June.

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