Florida is currently being targeted by Tropical Storm Helene, which is forecast to rapidly intensify into a Major Category 3 Hurricane in the days ahead, forcing a popular Central Florida attraction to close ahead of the storm.
The potential Hurricane Helene has claimed its first Central Florida attraction, with The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens announcing that it will remain closed on Thursday, September 26 due to predicted severe weather as a result of Tropical Storm Helene.
The zoo say that they plan to reopen for regular business hours at 9 am. on Friday, September 27.
Also, the previously-scheduled Lemurs of Madagascar event Thursday has been cancelled, together with Friday evening's Sunset at the Zoo event has been postponed to a later date of Thursday, October 10.
Ticketholders will be contacted soon wth details on the rescheduled event.
For more details: https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/
The massive storm is expected to slam into Florida on Thursday, bringing severe weather throughout the state. Hurricane Watches have been issued along the Gulf Coast, with Tropical Storm Watches issues for Central Florida including Orlando, with warning likely to follow.
The NHC is warning Floridians to take the potential for severe weather seriously, commenting, "The potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and the Florida west coast is increasing,"
Residents are being urged to have their hurricane plan in place, and also follow advice given by local officials. The storm is forecast to be large and powerful, and residents should prepare for a dangerous and destructive storm as time begins to run out to take necessary precautions.
With it looking more and more likely that a major hurricane will bear down on Florida in the coming days, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has expanded a declared state of emergency to 61 of the state's 67 counties.
During an update on the possible hurricane on Tuesday morning, the governor commented that the updated state of emergency now covers “every county in Florida outside Southeast Florida.”
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DeSantis' order placed Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie in charge of the state's response, including coordinating efforts with utility companies, neighboring states and the federal government.
The State of Emergency allows state officials to make resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts.
DeSantis' has also activated the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard, ahead of posible severe impacts throughout the state.
The State of Emergency now includes:
Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties.
The goveor urged residents to prepare now, "Prepare. You have time to do it. There's a lot of uncertainty with this storm. But the one thing that is certain is we are gonna see some impacts."
Tropical Storm Helene has developed in the northwest Caribbean.
Remember, the cone of uncertainty only accounts for where the center of the storm is forecast. However, this will be a very large storm and effects are expected well outside of the cone!
Ahead of severe weather rolling into the state, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued watches and warning across the state, with additional areas likely be added to the Watch later today.
Here in Central Florida a Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect for Orange, Seminole, Lake, & Osceola Counties, which includes Greater Orlando, and all the major tourism areas including Walt Dinsey World and Universal Orlando Resort.
Impacts across Central Florida in the next 48 hours could include tropical storm-force winds, heavy rain, and possible tornadoes.
On the west coast, a hurricane watch and storm surge watch is in effect for along the Gulf Coast from Sarasota County to the Florida Panhandle, including Tampa. That means hurricane force winds are possible within 48 hours.
A storm surge watch is also in effect along much of the Florida coast, along with a tropical storm watch for parts of southwest and northwest Florida, beyond the hurricane watch area.
As the storm progresses we will keep you updated with the latest information.
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