While the storm's track and intensity are likely to change some before it reaches land, NHC forecasters said one factor seems unavoidable: its size.

Torrential downpours won't be limited to Florida's coast. Forecasters warned massive Hurricane Helene could bring flooding to several states.

Hurricane Helene​ will be the fourth landfalling U.S. hurricane this year, and is set to bring strong wind gusts as far inland as Chicago this Friday and Saturday.

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle Thursday and is expected to move into Georgia by early Friday, forecasts show.

Fast-moving Hurricane Helene was advancing Thursday across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, threatening an “unsurvivable” storm surge in northwestern parts of the state as well as damaging winds, rains and flash floods hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.