Hurricane Helene will impact the Bay Area and knock out power in some places as the storm skirts the coastline ahead of landfall in the Big Bend on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay’s regulars — our barkeeps, retirees, refugees — all had the same reaction this week in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, no matter what part of the region they call home. Surprise. Never seen it this bad.

Residents of the booming region are confronting a new reality: Even when storms make landfall far away, their impact is being felt.