Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast, making landfall late Thursday as a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing with 140 mph winds, torrential rain and a record storm surge before moving inland across Georgia and the Carolinas. Helene made landfall near Perry, Fla., on Thursday night as a monster Category 4 storm.

Helene was one of the most powerful storms to hit Florida’s Big Bend in a lifetime, and damages across the region are mounting from the water and wind.

Tampa Bay area of Florida, particularly St. Petersburg, was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm Sept. 26, 2024.

Schools across the Piedmont Triad and surrounding areas will be closed on Friday, September 27 due to the threat of severe weather caused by Hurricane Helene, several school districts announced Thursday.