Hurricane Helene Could Be Strongest Storm To Hit Florida

Chloe Gray, 19, of Safety Harbor wades in the water at the Oldsmar Pier before Hurricane Helene arrives on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Oldsmar, Fla. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Hurricane Helene, currently a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of at least 130 mph, is on track to potentially become the strongest storm to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend region. The Big Bend, a marshy area that connects the panhandle and the peninsula, has seen powerful hurricanes in the past, with the 'Cedar Key Hurricane' in 1896 packing 125 mph winds.

Last year, Hurricane Idalia struck the Big Bend as a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds, causing significant damage to the area. If Hurricane Helene maintains its strength, it could surpass Idalia as one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in recent history.