Jim Cantore is in Tallahassee, Florida as Hurricane Helene closes in

The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore is in Tallahassee.

Around 4 p.m., Cantore posted on X he was in “TLH.” One hour later, Hurricane Helene was predicted to have 130 mph winds at landfall, making it a category 4.

It was confirmed when Cantore was spotted getting ready for a live shot on Monroe Street across from the Florida Capitol.

Earlier Wednesday, Cantore was in Port Richey, and before that he was in Hudson Beach, just over 7 miles north of there.

Cantore is one of the best-known meteorologists on television and has become known as a harbinger of hurricane damage for nearly four decades.

He is famous, or possibly infamous, for his on-location appearances before and especially during major weather events and often puts himself seemingly in harm’s way to demonstrate how dangerous a storm is.

At noon on Wednesday, Cantore posted on X that the threat of Hurricane Helene to the southeastern U.S. “cannot be understated.”

“This will be a historic storm for many including southern Appalachia with flooding and wind damage. Pray I’m wrong, I want to be. Be safe all and protect your families and property as best you can,” Cantore said.

Cedar Key resident Debbie McDonald, the general manager of the Cedar Inn Motel, said last year when Hurricane Idalia hit the Nature Coast, she knew her town was in trouble when Cantore came to stay at her property.

“When Jim Cantore shows up in your town, you’re screwed,” she said.

Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.