Fast-moving Hurricane Helene was nearing Florida’s western coast Thursday, threatening a “catastrophic” 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.S., forecasters said.
The storm was upgraded to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm Thursday. Landfall was expected by the evening. It knocked out power to over 500,000 homes and businesses as it approached.
States of emergency were declared in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Alabama. In the Pacific, strengthened Thursday morning back into a hurricane as it threatened areas of Mexico’s western coast with flash flooding and mudslides. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Isaac formed Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean and was expected to strengthen as it moves eastward, possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week, forecasters said.
Follow AP’s coverage of tropical weather at . Here’s the latest: Power outages rapidly increase along Florida’s west coast More than 500,000 homes and businesses had lost power in Florida as of 8:30 p.m.
, and that number is rising quickly, according to tracking site . Most outages were along the state’s west coast, where Hurricane Helene was approaching. Duke Energy, a major energy provider serving west-central Florida and the Panhandle, and Florida Power & Light Company, the state’s largest energy provider, were reporting over 150,000 outages each.
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