Hurricane Helene is strengthening as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico toward a forecast Thursday evening or early Friday morning landfall over Florida’s Big Bend Coast.

The National Hurricane Centre says Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches Florida.

It adds, “Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene’s fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.”

US President Joe Biden and Governor Ron DeSantis declared emergencies in the state earlier in the week, and evacuation orders were issued in several counties.