As Hurricane Helene intensifies and lashes Florida, more than 100,000 customers are currently without power in the state. The outages are affecting 109,000 homes and businesses as of 3:00 p.m., with a significant concentration in Southwest Florida where tropical storm-force wind gusts have been reported. However, the storm's expansive wind field is now spreading across much of the Florida Peninsula.
Some of the highest wind gusts recorded in the state so far include:
- Punta Gorda: 61 mph
- Fort Myers: 60 mph
- Naples: 53 mph
- St. Petersburg/Clearwater: 52 mph
With power outages expected to increase as the storm's wind field extends across the Southeast on Thursday and into Friday, residents are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
