Forecasters warn that storm, one of the most powerful to hit the US this year, could create a ‘nightmare’

• Tell us: have you been affected by Hurricane Helene?

Hurricane Helene strengthened to a catastrophic category 4 storm as it barreled toward Florida’s Gulf coast, making it one of the most powerful storms to hit the US this year.

The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday night. Forecasters warn the enormous storm could create a “nightmare”, with potentially life-threatening storm surge that could reach 15 to 20ft (4.6 to 6.1 meters) in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Panhandle region.