Hurricane Helene: Deaths reported as storm weakens

Hurricane Helene may be weakening but it is still dropping heavy rain across the southeastern part of the U.S. As of around noon on Friday, at least 30 deaths were reported in four states. Reporter Rebekah Castor reports.

Watch: Drone video from inside Hurricane Helene

A drone intentionally steered into Hurricane Helene in the eastern Gulf of Mexico took video of the strengthening cyclone in the hours before its was set to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Helene barreling towards the U.S.

Hurricane Helene is gaining strength, and it is setting its sights on the Big Bend region of Florida. Nearly all of the state is under weather alert, and warning are extending into Georgia and the Carolinas. Reporter Olivianna Calmes has more.

Hurricane Helene barrels towards Florida

New video shows heavy rains from the storm's outer bands soaking the Miami area. On its current track, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Hurricane Helene is forecast to make landfall along the Florida Big Bend on Thursday evening as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of at least 115 mph. After landfall, Helene is forecast to slow down and turn northwest, moving over the Southeast through Friday and Saturday.

Live updates: Hurricane Helene forecast to hit Florida as Category 4 storm

Helene strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday and is expected to strengthen further – potentially becoming a major hurricane – before making landfall over Florida on Thursday. Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, torrential rain, and flooding are possible.