Hurricane Helene strengthens on course for western Florida

A man boards up the windows to his home in advance of Tropical Storm Helene, expected to make landfall as a hurricane, in Ochlockonee Bay, Florida, Sept. 25, 2024. This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Helene advancing across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, Sept. 26, 2024.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported Thursday fast-moving Hurricane Helene is on course to hit northwestern Florida, where it is predicted to bring a catastrophic and deadly storm surge as high as six meters above ground level in some areas.