•a major hurricane is poised to make a quick landfall in the united states thursday. •time is running out to prepare for helene's arrival. Verkkofrancine has strengthened into a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and is forecast to keep strengthening ahead of landfall along the. Tracking map tracking data is from the national hurricane center. the map shows probabilities of at least 5 percent. Verkkothis national oceanic and atmospheric administration satellite image taken at 6:10 p. m. Et shows hurricane john near southern mexico on monday,.