On the map: Mapping the path of Hurricane Helene as the catastrophic storm makes landfall

Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday evening, bringing deadly winds of 140 miles per hour and a “catastrophic” storm surge.

Helene made landfall at 11:10 p.m. ET in Perry, Florida, just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, the National Hurricane Center said in an update.

“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center said an hour before the storm made landfall. “Individuals should not leave their accommodations and remain in place during these life-threatening conditions.”

A state of emergency has been declared in 61 of Florida’s 67 counties and evacuation orders have been issued for several.

The NHC warned that a catastrophic and deadly storm surge of up to 20 feet will hit portions of the Big Bend coast, with the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula at “risk of life-threatening storm surge.”

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida late Thursday, then turn north and move through Georgia and Tennessee (National Hurricane Center)

“Damaging and life-threatening hurricane-force winds” will move inland into parts of northern Florida and southern Georgia late Thursday and Thursday evening, the NHC warned.

Strong wind gusts are also expected to reach portions of northern Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.