Helene forecast to make landfall as Cat 4

[National Weather Service in Jacksonville]

Hurricane Helene has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 before making landfall in the Big Bend Region on Thursday night.

A hurricane warning is in effect for western Marion, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for central and eastern Marion. The entire county is under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.

Locally, tropical storm conditions are expected through Thursday. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms are likely during the morning, and showers with thunderstorms are likely this afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall, according to NWS Jacksonville.

Thursday afternoon, southeast winds are expected at 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. The chance of rain in the afternoon is 90 percent.

In the evening, tropical storm conditions are expected with likely thunderstorms. South winds are expected at 25 to 35 mph with up to 55 mph and a chance of rain near 100 percent, according to NWS Jacksonville.