Hurricane Helene is closing in on Florida with landfall expected in the Big Bend area Thursday. As of 9 p.m., Helene is moving toward the north-northeast at 24 mph. A continued fast motion to the north-northeast is expected through landfall in the Florida Big Bend in a few hours.

Hurricane Helene, expected to be a Category 4, has sent rain, wind and storm surge into Sarasota and Manatee counties.