Hurricane Helene

Tampa International Airport is suspending operations on Thursday as Florida continues to brace for Hurricane Helene. 

Hurricane Helene is expected to start rapidly intensifying as it makes its approach to Florida. The storm is forecast to bring "catastrophic" winds and storm surge to the northeastern Gulf coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

Coastal areas of Hernando County are under a hurricane warning as Helene approaches Florida, leading to mandatory evacuations for Zones A, B and C – everything west of U.S. 19.

Families used their last full day before Hurricane Helene on Wednesday to prepare their homes, as storm surge became a big concern for those in Pasco County. 

Thousands of power crews from in and out of state are staged and ready to respond to outages caused by Hurricane Helene. 

Port Tampa Bay's shipping channels closed Wednesday evening ahead of Hurricane Helene, which is expected to bring impacts to the Tampa Bay area. 

Hurricane Helene is expected to be off the west coast of Florida on Thursday afternoon as a Category 4 storm and Publix says it is keeping a close eye on the weather and may be adjusting hours in areas that will likely be hit the hardest. 

As Hurricane Helene approaches, crews work fast to build a wall against the storm at Tampa General Hospital, which is right on the Hillsborough Bay. 

The west coast of Crystal River is bracing for storm surge coming from Hurricane Helene. Residents and business owners spent Wednesday morning getting their valuables to safety, and then evacuating.

Residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties are preparing for the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Officials in Pinellas County say residents in Zone A or in a mobile home anywhere in the county should be evacuated before Thursday morning. They’re in mandatory evacuation zones. 

Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota has a plan to follow during every tropical system that comes our way. 

Polk County is avoiding a direct hit from Hurricane Helene, but officials and homeowners are still preparing for tropical storm conditions.

The large storm will bring widespread heavy rain, damaging wind and possible tornadoes to cities in the Southeast, including Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina.

Citrus County has ordered a mandatory evacuation for licensed skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities located in Zone A beginning Wednesday, September 25, at 8 a.m.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will be closed on Thursday due to Hurricane Helene. 

As Hurricane Helene works its way toward Florida, here's what people in DeSoto County need to know. 

Those who live in Shore Acres know exactly what a storm like Helene can bring. They're already prone to flooding and are worried water will get into their homes again, but one man went door to door offering help to homeowners. 

Pasco County declared a State of Emergency Tuesday afternoon ahead of Tropical Storm Helene.