ORLANDO, Fla. – Hurricane Helene made landfall 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.
Helene was the third hurricane to hit the Big Bend in the last 13 months, following Hurricane Idalia in August 2023 and Hurricane Debby in August 2024.
Helene wobbled as it approached Florida’s coast late Thursday before making landfall near the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 20 miles northwest of where Hurricane Idalia came ashore last year at nearly the same ferocity and caused widespread damage.
Helene was a historic storm, marking the strongest landfall on record since 1851. Before it hit land, its hurricane-force winds reached 60 miles from the center, while tropical storm-force winds extended 345 miles out.
Helene became the third largest Gulf storm at 420 miles wide, behind Irma (2005) and Opal (1995), both of which were 460 miles wide.
All made landfalls within about 25 miles of each other.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: