The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami expects Hurricane Helen to bring life-threatening storm surges, damaging winds and heavy rain.

It is now on its way across the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico, where record warm waters are strengthening the hurricane.

The hurricane is likely to be a Category 4 – the second highest on the scale – when it makes landfall, Reuters reported.

Winds over 250 km/h

For those living in the path of a hurricane, it unfortunately means catastrophic wind damage, says NHC Deputy Director Jamie Romm.

Residents in some areas of Florida can expect up to 400 mm of rain and wind speeds of up to 251 km/h.

For certain areas on the east coast of Florida, a flash flood warning has been issued for storm surges greater than 20 feet.

More than 40 million people in Florida, Georgia and Alabama live in areas where tornado or hurricane warnings are now in effect.

Just finished repairs

In St. Petersburg, Florida, 81-year-old Melissa Wolcott Martino was packing her belongings Wednesday to evacuate.

Earlier today, it had just completed final repairs after Hurricane Ida, which hit Florida in August.

– We had Idalia last year. We just finished the repairs, we finished the last details today, and now we're preparing for another storm. And she says this is not good.

Heavy rain in Cuba

On Wednesday night, Helen hit western Cuba. In some places, more than 200 mm of rain fell in 24 hours.

The result was severe flooding and destruction of buildings. Crops were destroyed in large areas of Pinar del Rio province.

Cuba has a very effective hurricane warning system, and no deaths have been reported.

Strongest in over a year

If the warnings come true, Helen would be the strongest hurricane to hit the United States in more than a year.

The previous powerful hurricane to hit the United States was when Ida hit northwest Florida in August 2023.

Scientists speak CNN Climate change is causing storms to become stronger because a warmer ocean gives them more energy.

Strong hurricanes

Global warming is likely to make tropical cyclones more intense, according to the United Nations climate panel.

The reason is that the sea has become warmer than before.

New areas may be exposed to the remnants of tropical cyclones.

Whether the total number of hurricanes will change is uncertain. There will probably be the same or fewer.

Swipe to see how the tornado forms.

Agence France-Presse

The hurricane is forming.

Imagine the sea temperature is over 26-27 degrees.

The water evaporates and the warm air rises. The air contains a lot of moisture.

At the top, the air gets colder, it becomes harder to retain moisture, and a lot of energy is released.

If the wind force is more than 32.6 m/s, we call it a hurricane.

Agence France-Presse

Great destruction

In a tropical cyclone, strong winds and heavy rainfall cause widespread destruction.

Severe storm surges and tornadoes are also feared results of a hurricane.

Indeed, rising sea levels mean that waves and tides reach deeper.

Stronger, more intense hurricanes will cause greater damage.

AFP

the future

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) believes that an additional number of strong hurricanes may occur in the Atlantic Ocean this year.

Residents of hurricane-prone areas will likely have to get used to earlier, more powerful hurricanes, according to climate scientists.

Hurricanes are also known as typhoons and cyclones in other waters.

AFP

gauge

Hurricanes are classified by wind strength, with numbers from 1 to 5 used.

The scale is called the Saffir-Simpson scale.

It's the 4 and 5 categories that we'll see more of in the future.

Some researchers have suggested that the scale should be raised to 6, to make room for hurricanes that grow in size and strength.