Tropical weather authority issues alert for harmful cyclone named "Helene"
In the United States, FEMA is urging residents of Florida's southern coast to evacuate as Hurricane "Helene" approaches. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned that this storm could affect multiple states from Florida to Tennessee and could bring "catastrophic and deadly" storm surges. The hurricane is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 storm on Thursday evening local time with potential storm surges of up to six meters impacting the west coast of Florida and the Big Bend region.
Potentially dangerous storm surges
The threat of storm surges is already evident in Florida, with forecasters predicting potential surges up to six meters. The entire west coast of Florida and the Big Bend region in the north are particularly at risk. "It's the water that kills people," cautioned Criswell, urging everyone to "take the storm seriously" and follow instructions from local authorities. It is not too late to evacuate, according to Criswell.
Hurricane "Helene" strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico and was upgraded to a Category 2 storm. In Cuba, the hurricane led to floods, power outages, and the isolation of several towns due to heavy flooding. More than 70,000 people on the island were without electricity, according to the "Granma" newspaper. The agriculturally significant region of Pinar del Rio in the west of the island was also damaged.
Due to Hurricane "Helene", approximately a quarter of US oil production and 20% of natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico have been temporarily halted, reported the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
Florida recalls "Ian"
The arrival of Hurricane "Helene" may bring back sad memories for many Florida residents. Two years ago, Hurricane "Ian" caused extensive damage and loss of life in the state, with over 100 fatalities. The storm's center was located in a densely populated area in the southwest and swept through coastal cities such as Naples with wind speeds of around 240 kilometers per hour, flooding neighborhoods.
Tropical cyclones develop over warm seawater. Scientists believe that rising global temperatures increase the likelihood of strong storms. The hurricane season in the Atlantic begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.
Residents in Florida, who still recall the devastation caused by Hurricane "Ian" two years ago, are now advised to evacuate once again as Hurricane "Helene" approaches. The western coast of Florida and the Big Bend region, which were heavily impacted by "Ian", are once again considered at risk due to the potential storm surges of up to six meters.
