The Big Bend area buffers the coastline from Florida's capital city, Tallahassee, which is a little more than 20 miles from the Gulf Coast.

Helene could become the second hurricane to make landfall over Florida's Big Bend region this year. Jason Allen takes a look at how the state and local residents are preparing for the storm.

Helene, 8th named storm of 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, is expected to make landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, impacting Big Bend area.

Helene is expected to rapidly intensify into a major and massive hurricane with 115-mph winds by the time it makes landfall Thursday.

After a strangely quiet 6-weeks in the Atlantic, Hurricane Helene was born today. And as (bad) luck would have it, the forecasted track has it hitting Florida's big bend, again. And this time, potentially as a Major Category 3 storm.

Tropical Storm Helene is expected to unleash mudslides and flooding in Cuba before reaching major hurricane strength on Thursday as it hits Florida with life-threatening ocean surge, the U.S. National Weather Service said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said Florida is preparing for a direct hit from a major hurricane that could intensify quickly before it makes landfall in the Panhandle later this week. The National Hurricane Center predicted a tropical storm currently in the Gulf of Mexico will become Hurricane Helene as it moves north toward Florida by Thursday.

Helene officially developed into a named storm Tuesday and is expected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane this week.