...HELENE BECOMES A HURRICANE... ...EXPECTED TO BRING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, DAMAGING WINDS, AND FLOODING RAINS TO A LARGE PORTION OF FLORIDA AND THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES... As of 10:00 AM CDT Wed Sep 25 the center of Helene was located near 21.6, -86.3 with movement NNW at 10 mph. The minimum central pressure was 979 mb with maximum sustained winds of about 80 mph.