Helene is strengthening as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. It is expected to become a hurricane today and will hit Florida's Big Bend on Thursday.

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.