FLORIDA, USA — As Hurricane Helene nears the Florida coast as a strong Category 4 cyclone, the effects of the storm are already being seen across the state.
As the system approaches the "Big Bend" area of Florida's Gulf Coast, the storm became parallel to Tampa Bay on Thursday afternoon, producing big surges and even closing several bridges from bands of wind and rain.
Videos and photos across social media have shown just how serious these impacts near the Florida coast have been so far, even before the major Cat 4 hurricane has made landfall.
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Hurricane Helene impacts in Florida
The Skyway Bridge and Howard Frankland Bridge are now both closed due to high winds and storm surge. Before it was shut down, the video shows cars driving over the bridge as a strong storm surge leaped over the bridge's walls:
Storm surge is already impacting Madeira Beach in Florida:
Photos show storm surge and high waves in Tampa:
Damage and high waves are shown in Mantatee County, Florida:
Hurricane Hunters flew into Helene several hours ago and got a close-up glimpse at just how strong the storm is from above: