...HELENE BECOMES A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE WITH SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING EXPECTED BEFORE LANDFALL IN FLORIDA... ...PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION... As of 7:00 AM CDT Thu Sep 26 the center of Helene was located near 24.5, -85.9 with movement NNE at 12 mph. The minimum central pressure was 960 mb with maximum sustained winds of about 100 mph.