Hurricane Helene upgraded to Category 3 as it barrels toward Florida

Hurricane Helene has been upgraded to a Category 2 storm and is expected to become a major hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Fast-moving Hurricane Helene was advancing across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Thursday, threatening a “catastrophic” storm surge in northwestern parts of the state as well as tornadoes, damaging winds, rains and flash floods hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern US, forecasters said.

Helene strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane on Thursday as it barrelled across the Gulf of Mexico on a path to Florida, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.