Map: Track Hurricane Helene’s path, forecast and status

Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday night after it strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane earlier in the day.

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said the eye of the storm made landfall about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida, about 11:10 p.m. ET with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.

The storm weakened to a Category 1 as it moved inland across Georgia but the threat of life-threatening storm surge, winds and heavy rain continued, the hurricane center said in a 2 a.m. Friday update.