Millions were without power across the southeastern U.S. as Florida reeled from Hurricane Helene, which pummeled parts of the state overnight, knocking out power lines and washing away houses.

Hurricane Helene intensified into a major Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph making landfall Thursday night bringing devastating winds and storm surge to Florida’s Big Bend, according to the

Helene is more then 400 miles across and is one of the largest hurricanes ever to hit the coast of Gulf of Mexico

Helene made landfall in Florida's "sparsely-populated Big Bend area, home to fishing villages and vacation hideaways," The Associated Press said, but damage from the storm stretched along Florida's west coast and into neighboring states.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Hurricane Helene made landfall 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. Helene was the third hurricane to hit the Big Bend in the last 13 months, following Hurricane Idalia in August 2023 and Hurricane Debby in August 2024.

Record-setting storm surge and damage from high winds have caused significant damage across Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Tampa Bay northward.

Hurricane Helene brought maximum sustained winds up to 140 mph and catastrophic storm surges up to 20 feet along Florida's Big Bend region as it made landfall Thursday as a Category 4 storm. At least three people have been killed.

The hurricane’s storm surge could be devastating in the coastal areas of Florida’s Big Bend, where the peninsula meets the panhandle.