It is official — Jim Cantore is in Florida ahead of Helene, which is forecast to turn out to be a significant hurricane before making landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
On Tuesday, The Weather Channel mentioned the famed hurricane harbinger touched down in Pasco County. Cantore and several other Weather Channel meteorologists had been dispatched to Florida’s West Coast to cover the tropical system.
Early Wednesday morning, the Facebook group called “Monitoring Jim Cantore” had a post indicating Cantore is in Hudson.
“Not every day you get to meet Jim Cantore in little old Hudson, FL!” group member April Scott wrote.
Proper now, Jim Cantore is reportedly in Pasco County, Florida. The Weather Channel says he’s stationed in Port Richey and he has been reportedly noticed in nearby Hudson.
The newest advisory from the National Hurricane Center says Helene is predicted to turn out to be a hurricane sometime Wednesday. Then, it will “quickly strengthen” to major hurricane standing on Thursday before it makes landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The first rain bands are anticipated to hit late Wednesday and will carry extreme weather. As the storm passes parallel to the Tampa Bay area Thursday, it may carry storm surge later in the day. For Friday, winds are anticipated to shift out of the southwest as the system moves out of the area. Flooding and surge will continue to be a significant concern until conditions return to normal Saturday.
Cantore's Presence: A Harbinger of Trouble
Cantore is one of the best-known meteorologists on television and has become known as a harbinger of hurricane damage for nearly four decades. He is famous, or possibly infamous, for his on-location appearances before and especially during major weather events and often puts himself seemingly in harm’s way to demonstrate how dangerous a storm is. The famed hurricane harbinger was noticed in Pasco County Wednesday morning.
The Threat of Helene: A Serious Concern
At noon on Wednesday, Cantore posted on X that the threat of Hurricane Helene to the southeastern U.S. “cannot be understated.”
“This will be a historic storm for many including southern Appalachia with flooding and wind damage. Pray I’m wrong, I want to be. Be safe all and protect your families and property as best you can,” Cantore said.
Around 4 p.m., Cantore posted on X he was in “TLH.” One hour later, Hurricane Helene was predicted to have 130 mph winds at landfall, making it a category 4.
When Cantore Shows Up, Get Ready for Trouble
Cedar Key resident Debbie McDonald, the general manager of the Cedar Inn Motel, said last year when Hurricane Idalia hit the Nature Coast, she knew her town was in trouble when Cantore came to stay at her property.
“When Jim Cantore shows up in your town, you’re screwed,” she said.
Some Tampa Bay area counties, including Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough and Pasco have issued mandatory evacuation orders ahead of the storm’s landfall. It was confirmed when Cantore was spotted getting ready for a live shot on Monroe Street across from the Florida Capitol. Earlier Wednesday, Cantore was in Port Richey, and before that he was in Hudson Beach, just over 7 miles north of there.
The Significance of Cantore's Arrival
Cantore's presence in Florida is a clear indication of the severity of Hurricane Helene. His arrival has prompted local officials to issue evacuation orders, highlighting the potential danger of the storm. It remains to be seen how Helene will ultimately impact the state, but the arrival of Cantore has certainly heightened the sense of urgency and concern among residents.
