Florida is again bracing itself for the onslaught of another hurricane. This time – hurricane Helene.
She is forecast to hit today, 26th September, as a category 3 hurricane. As of 2:25pm local time, it is now a category 3 with wind speeds of 120mph. Effects are starting to be seen across the coastline with reports of possible “unsurvivable” storm surges expected.
Update: around 6:20pm local time, Helene has now reached wind speeds of 130mph which makes it a category 4 hurricane. There is a chance it may strengthen to category 5 by landfall in a few hours’ time.
The National Weather Service earlier urged Floridians to “rush” their preparations to protect life and property to completion.
Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected within the eyewall of Helene when it makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend region this evening. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. Damaging and life-threatening hurricane-force… pic.twitter.com/QvvH5Dfn8O
— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 26, 2024
Walt Disney World is not a stranger to closing parks. It did so for Matthew in 2016 and Ian in 2022.
This time, for hurricane Helene, the major parks like Magic Kingdom and Epcot are remaining open, however the Typhoon Lagoon water park is closing.
Magic Kingdom is running later opening hours to account for increased footfall with closures in the area, although the Mickey’s Not So Scary Hallowe’en Party has been cancelled for today, 26th September.