Images of how outer effects of Hurricane Helene is impacting Southwest Florida

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As Hurricane Helene gears up to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area, parts of Southwest Florida are already beginning to feel the outer effects of the storm.

According to Weather Authority meteorologist Juliana Mejia, heavy winds were picking up late Thursday with wind gusts reaching speeds around 40 to 50 miles per hour.

Across Southwest Florida, tornado watches are active until 8 p.m. Thursday and flood watches are active until 8 a.m. Friday.

Many neighborhoods have seen flooded streets and wind damage before the afternoon arrived, and with another high tide looming at around midnight, the worst is not over.

Sanibel Island

Captiva

Lehigh Acres

Alva

Port Charlotte

Fort Myers Shores

The following video shows heavy winds picking up furniture outside a Fort Myers Shores home.

North Fort Myers

Bonita Springs

Punta Gorda

El Jobean

Naples

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