Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly intensifying and is expected to become a major hurricane before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday night. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued hurricane warnings for parts of Florida, urging residents to take immediate steps to prepare for the storm’s impact.
Key Threats:
- Storm Surge: Helene poses a serious threat of life-threatening storm surge, especially in areas along and east of its expected landfall. Regions from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle are at risk of severe flooding, with some locations potentially seeing water levels rise over 10 feet above ground.
- Damaging Winds: Because of its large size, Helene is expected to bring hurricane-force winds to a much broader area than usual. This could result in widespread downed trees, power outages, and even structural damage, affecting both coastal and inland regions. Tropical storm-force winds may also extend into parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.
- Flooding Rain: Helene is forecast to bring heavy rainfall across Florida, the Southeast, and into the Ohio Valley, raising serious concerns about flash flooding, particularly in areas with high storm surges or already saturated ground. In mountainous regions, the risk of landslides is also heightened.
Preparation:
Residents in the affected areas are advised to:
- Stay updated on weather conditions by monitoring the NHC and local authorities.
- Create a plan for hurricanes and be aware of your designated evacuation area.
- Create a survival kit containing necessary items like food, water, and essential supplies.
- Secure furniture and bring in light weight objects that could become projectiles in fast pressure winds.
Here is the timeline:
Wednesday: Helene’s center will make its closest approach to Cancún and Cozumel, bringing high winds, storm surge, and heavy rain. Meanwhile, bands of strong winds and heavy rain will continue to affect parts of western Cuba. Helene is expected to enter the southern Gulf of Mexico, where it will intensify and grow in size. High surf and outer rainbands will begin reaching parts of Florida, while tropical moisture interacting with a front could trigger heavy, flooding rain from Georgia to eastern Tennessee in the Tennessee Valley.
Thursday: Helene is forecast to reach peak intensity in the eastern Gulf before making landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast Thursday night as a large, major hurricane. Although current forecast models suggest landfall is most likely in Florida’s Big Bend or eastern Panhandle, it’s important to note that hurricane impacts—such as storm surge, winds, and rain—can extend far from the storm’s center, especially in large storms like Helene.
Friday: Helene will rapidly track northward through the Southeast, reaching the southern Appalachians and Ohio Valley. Expect strong, potentially damaging wind gusts, flooding rains, and isolated tornadoes across the region.
Stay Informed:
The National Hurricane Center’s website and social media channels offer the information on Hurricane Helene’s track and intensity. In addition emergency management agencies will provide vital updates and safety instructions for residents in affected areas.