Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen into Hurricane Helene as it passes through the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to make landfall as a major storm on Florida’s Big Bend late Thursday. It will then move across Georgia and into metro Atlanta late Thursday night and into Friday morning.

Weather experts and government officials advise Georgia residents to prepare before Helene makes landfall Thursday evening, expected to be a Category 3 hurricane when it reaches land. Preparation is essential to minimizing the impact of severe weather, officials say. Government officials say the following items are important to have handy: