Helene strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane hours ahead of its expected landfall on Florida’s northwest coast Thursday night, and forecasters warned that the enormous storm could create a “nightmare” surge in coastal areas and bring dangerous winds and rain across much of the southeastern U.

Hurricane Helene, now a Category 2 storm, is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend area, bringing catastrophic storm surge, damaging winds, and potential severe flooding.