Helene -- which has strengthened to a major Category 3 hurricane -- is taking aim at Florida, where it's forecast to make landfall along the Big Bend area on Thursday night. North Carolina and Georgia have declared states of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene, their governors announced on Wednesday.

As Hurricane Helene approaches Florida, Georgia and Alabama, metro Atlanta and its surrounding communities are bracing for torrential rain, heavy flooding and widespread power outages on Thursday.Helene is expected to make landfall as a category 3 in Florida late Thursday.

Multiple state and federal agencies are coordinating a response ahead of the dangerous storm as Georgia residents are asked to stay off the roads.