As monster storms like Helene approach the U.S., meteorologists use five categories to help signal the life-or-death consequences for residents in the path. This scale – officially known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale – is a rating based on maximum sustained wind speed,

Ahead of Hurricane Helene's landfall, forecasters are predicting it will hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. Here's what that means

Massive Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida’s sparsely populated Big Bend region, bringing storm surge and high winds across the state’s Gulf Coast