Helene to be among largest Gulf hurricanes in decades, forecasts say

The massive size of Hurricane Helene will likely place it among the largest hurricanes to threaten our region so far this century. If forecasts hold true, the storm could stretch more than 400 miles across by Thursday afternoon when its center is expected to pass about 125 miles off the coast of Tampa Bay toward landfall in the Panhandle. More importantly, hurricane and tropical storm-force winds and rain from the asymmetrical storm’s east side are expected to stretch 250 miles, enough to feel impacts across the entire Florida peninsula.