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In pictures: Hurricane Helene batters Florida


Nick Ward wears goggles to protect his eyes against the wind as he walks past a capsized boat being washed against the ashore, in St. Petersburg Florida, before Hurricane Helene has hit land, on 26 September, 2024.

Nick Ward wears goggles to protect his eyes against the wind as he walks past a capsized boat being washed against the ashore, in St. Petersburg Florida, as Hurricane Helene lies offshore, on 26 September.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Joe Raedle

Evacuation orders have been issued for some parts of coastal Florida ahead of the arrival of the potentially deadly Hurricane Helene.

Authorities in the area are pleading with people to take precautions and move from dangerous areas, as winds could reach more than 209km/h, and seawater pushed inland by the storm could reach 6.1 metres in some places – as high as a two-story building.

The storm was already causing damage and flooding in some areas while offshore, on the evening of Thursday 26 September, Florida time (about midday Friday NZ time).

Here’s what photographers in the area have captured:

Water from the Gulf of Mexico floods a road as Hurricane Helene, already a Category 3 storm, churns offshore at St Pete Beach, Florida. on 26 September, 2024.

Water from the Gulf of Mexico floods a road as Hurricane Helene – already a Category 3 storm – churns offshore at St Pete Beach, Florida, on Thursday, 26 September.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Joe Raedle

A car stranded in floodwaters in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Hurricane Helene reaches the level of a Category 3 storm, offshore, on 26 September, 2024.

A car stranded in floodwaters in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Hurricane Helene reaches the level of a Category 3 storm, offshore, on 26 September.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Joe Raedle

People walk in the wind and rain next to Tampa Bay as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on 26 September, 2024, at St. Petersburg, Florida.

People walk in the wind and rain next to Tampa Bay St. Petersburg, Florida, as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on 26 September.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Joe Raedle

Workers place plywood over the windows of a business before the arrival of Hurricane Helene, on 25 September, 2024, in Clearwater, Florida.

Workers place plywood over the windows of a business before the arrival of Hurricane Helene, in Clearwater, Florida.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Joe Raedle

Wakulla County firefighters go door-to-door to take note of which residents plan to stay in their homes during Hurricane Helene on 25 September, 2024.

Wakulla County firefighters go door-to-door to take note of which residents plan to stay in their homes during Hurricane Helene on 25 September, 2024.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Sean Rayford

A National Guardsman prepares for storm response on 26 September, 2024 in Crawfordville, Florida, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene.

A National Guardsman prepares for storm response, in Crawfordville, Florida.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Sean Rayford

People preparing sand bags ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene in Crawfordville, Florida, on 25 September, 2024.

People preparing sand bags ahead of the hurricane’s arrival, in Crawfordville, Florida, on 25 September.
Photo: AFP/ Chandan Khanna

People fill sandbags at Helen Howarth Park ahead of Hurricane Helene, on 25 September, 2024 in Pinellas Park, Florida.

People gathered at a community drop off point to fill bags with sand, at Helen Howarth Park ahead of Hurricane Helene, on 25 September, 2024 in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Joe Raedle

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 26: Tayze Belcher stands near as a wave crashes ashore as Hurricane Helene passes offshore on September 26, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane, bringing the potential for deadly storm surges, flooding rain, and destructive hurricane-force winds along parts of the Florida West Coast.   Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by JOE RAEDLE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Tayze Belcher stands near as a wave crashes ashore as Hurricane Helene is offshore on 26 September, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Photo: JOE RAEDLE / AFP

Holly Sexton and Paul Sexton move a fridge into a trailer as they remove most of their belongings from their home, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene on 25 September, 2024 in Port Richey, Florida. Sexton said she would rather move everything out than have to replace items if the house floods.

Holly Sexton and Paul Sexton move a fridge into a trailer as they remove most of their belongings from their home, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene on 25 September, in Port Richey, Florida. Sexton said she would rather move everything out than have to replace items if the house floods.
Photo: AFP/ Getty – Joe Raedle

This image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Helene on September 26, 2024, at 17:51 UTC. Parts of Florida face

A US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration graphic from just before 2pm Florida time on Thursday 26 September (about 6am on Friday in NZ), as the weather system approaches Florida.
Photo: HANDOUT / AFP



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