Nick Ward wears goggles to protect his eyes against the wind as he walks past a capsized boat being washed against the ashore, in St. Petersburg Florida, as Hurricane Helene lies offshore, on 26 September. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Joe Raedle
Evacuation orders have been issued for some parts of coastal Florida ahead of the arrival of the potentially deadly Hurricane Helene.
Authorities in the area are pleading with people to take precautions and move from dangerous areas, as winds could reach more than 209km/h, and seawater pushed inland by the storm could reach 6.1 metres in some places - as high as a two-story building.
The storm was already causing damage and flooding in some areas while offshore, on the evening of Thursday 26 September, Florida time (about midday Friday NZ time).
Here's what photographers in the area have captured:
Water from the Gulf of Mexico floods a road as Hurricane Helene - already a Category 3 storm - churns offshore at St Pete Beach, Florida, on Thursday, 26 September. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Joe Raedle
A car stranded in floodwaters in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Hurricane Helene reaches the level of a Category 3 storm, offshore, on 26 September. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Joe Raedle
People walk in the wind and rain next to Tampa Bay St. Petersburg, Florida, as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on 26 September. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Joe Raedle
Workers place plywood over the windows of a business before the arrival of Hurricane Helene, in Clearwater, Florida. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Joe Raedle
Wakulla County firefighters go door-to-door to take note of which residents plan to stay in their homes during Hurricane Helene on 25 September, 2024. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Sean Rayford
A National Guardsman prepares for storm response, in Crawfordville, Florida. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Sean Rayford
People preparing sand bags ahead of the hurricane's arrival, in Crawfordville, Florida, on 25 September. Photo: AFP/ Chandan Khanna
People gathered at a community drop off point to fill bags with sand, at Helen Howarth Park ahead of Hurricane Helene, on 25 September, 2024 in Pinellas Park, Florida. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Joe Raedle
Tayze Belcher stands near as a wave crashes ashore as Hurricane Helene is offshore on 26 September, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo: JOE RAEDLE / AFP
Holly Sexton and Paul Sexton move a fridge into a trailer as they remove most of their belongings from their home, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene on 25 September, in Port Richey, Florida. Sexton said she would rather move everything out than have to replace items if the house floods. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Joe Raedle
A US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration graphic from just before 2pm Florida time on Thursday 26 September (about 6am on Friday in NZ), as the weather system approaches Florida. Photo: HANDOUT / AFP