Hurricane Helene strengthens on course for western Florida

The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported Thursday fast-moving Hurricane Helene is on course to hit northwestern Florida, where it is predicted to bring a catastrophic and deadly storm surge as high as six meters above ground level in some areas.

In its latest report, the hurricane center reported Helene to be about 585 kilometers south of Apalachicola, on the western edge of what is known as Florida's "Big Ben