Maps show possible storm surge, rainfall levels and more as Hurricane Helene makes its way north toward Florida's Gulf Coast.

Strong winds around the eye of a hurricane cause ocean water to circulate. As a storm arrives in shallower waters along the coast, the ocean bottom disrupts that circulation and forces water upward and inland. Other influencing factors are the timing of high tide, shape of the sea floor and coast and the angle of the storm's approach.

Helene could bring storm surge to the entire west coast — up to 15 feet near landfall in Taylor and Dixie Counties, and up to 8 feet in the Tampa Bay region. Six inches of rain could blanket the west coat, with up to 8 inches near Tampa Bay and the Big Bend area.

Hurricane Helene, now a Category 2 storm, is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend area, bringing catastrophic storm surge, damaging winds, and potential severe flooding.

Helene steadily strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane early Thursday morning and is poised to strike the northeastern Gulf coast tonight as a major hurricane, bringing catastrophic winds and storm surge into Florida’s Big Bend from east of Apalachicola to Florida’s Nature Coast,

The forecast refers to the potential for rapid intensification over the Gulf of Mexico, which is when a storm gains 35 mph or more in a 24-hour period.

Helene becomes a major Category 3 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico as it churns toward northwestern Florida.

After days of brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Helene is slated to touch down along Florida’s Big Bend coast on Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane. The Florida Big Bend, a particular slice of the state’s northwestern coast where Florida’s panhandle region begins to curve around the Gulf of Mexico and transition into the state’s distinct peninsula,

Hurricane Helene strengthened as it entered the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday with the National Hurricane Center forecasting the storm to continue to intensify and strike Florida as a major Category 4 hurricane.