Weather

CNN -A massive storm churning through the Gulf of Mexico is expected to make landfall in Florida today as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm surge — how high the water rises above normal levels — could climb to 20 feet along Florida's Big Bend. The National Weather Service has warned Hurricane Helene could unleash "unsurvivable" conditions in Apalachee Bay. Wind speeds in the storm are expected to reach at least 130 mph, though additional strengthening is possible. Thousands of Florida residents have already been forced to evacuate and nearly the entire state is under alerts. Widespread power outages are also likely across the Southeast. Follow live updates here.

NPR - Meteorologists say the storm surge where Helene will make landfall could be as high as 20 feet and “unsurvivable,” NPR’s Frank Morris says.  When it hits shore, it’ll come with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour with higher gusts. The storm is expected to knock out power across a vast section of the country as it sweeps into Georgia and the Carolinas before it stalls out over Tennessee and Kentucky. Inland flooding hundreds of miles away from where the storm comes ashore is another big concern. Local officials are urging residents in Helene's path to evacuate. But evacuation is not as easy as it seems, and some residents have no choice but to stay put.