Thankfully, Hurricane Helene won't make a direct hit in Tampa Bay. But, the National Hurricane Center still predicts the powerful storm will bring our slice of the Gulf Coast 5-8 ft of storm surge, tropical storm force winds, and heavy rainfall.

Forecasters expect Tampa Bay will see the majority of Hurricane Helene's impact today, as the storm prepares to make landfall further up the West Coast of Florida.

Tracking the storm

A reminder: The best way to track the storm's path is through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Hurricane Center.

We also recommend signing up for Alert Tampa, the city’s emergency alerts system — and Alert Pinellas if you’re in Pinellas County — for updates on evacuation orders being lifted, shelters, and storm debris pickups.

Plus, check with Hillsborough or Pinellas to see when your child's school will reopen.

Once the storm passes, what's next?

Run from water, hide from wind. Stay inside until the storm passes and the storm surge flows back to the Gulf. Driving on flooded streets can cause your car to stall out or even catch on fire.

Better safe than sorry. Don't try to walk four-legged friends down flooded streets. Power lines, snakes, and other dangerous debris can hide under sitting water. To report a downed power line, call Tampa Electric at (888) 223-0800 or Duke Energy at (800) 228-8485.

Strong winds and heavy rain are likely to leave your yard in sorry shape. To prevent sitting debris from killing your lawn, collect tree limbs, leaves, and fallen flowers for Tampa or St. Pete pickup.