Hurricane Helene — expected to be one of the largest hurricanes to come through the Gulf of Mexico in decades — will bring damaging winds and storm surge to regions all along Florida’s west coast.As of Thursday morning, the storm reached Category 2 status, brewing roughly 255 miles southwest of Tampa. Residents around Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend are bracing for a potential major hurricane.Even with the eye far from Tampa Bay, Helene is forecast to generate storm surge as high as 5 to 8 feet in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and 8 to 12 feet along the coast of Pasco and Hernando counties. Local governments in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties have issued evacuations of Zone A. Hernando County issued evacuations for zones A, B and C.Watch the storm approach from these live cameras across Florida’s Gulf Coast, including in Tampa Bay.