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 communities before ripping into southern Georgia.