Hurricane Helene, the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season strengthened Wednesday over the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters now predict the storm will be a Category 4 when it hits Florida Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center said, “Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday.”
The Florida Gulf Coast, from Anclote River to Mexico Beach, is under a hurricane warning, along with a storm surge warning from Mexico Beach to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Additionally, a hurricane warning is in place from Cabo Catoche to Tulum, including Cozumel, Mexico.
Hurricane Helene
Helene’s winds are expected to reach 130 mph, making it a Category 4, in the next 24 hours. The storm was anticipated to make landfall late Wednesday in the Big Bend area of Florida, possibly just south of Tallahassee.
Courtesy NOAA
According to forecasters, storm surge is expected across most of Florida’s Gulf Coast, with a peak of 15-20 feet or surge predicted between Carrabelle and the Suwannee River, while Tampa Bay will get 5-8 feet of surge.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for a large portion of Florida's Gulf Coast, as well as the Florida Keys, the entire Atlantic coast of Florida, and the coastlines of Georgia and South Carolina.
These alerts also cover areas well inland, with cities such as Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina, included in the warning due to the forecast of strong winds reaching far inland. Additionally, there is a risk of significant rainfall leading to potentially dangerous flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides across the southern Appalachians.
Six to 12 inches of rain are expected across parts of the southeastern U.S. affected by the storm, with isolated totals up to 18 inches, which “will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding.”
The Tampa International Airport will close to the public at 2 a.m. Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene and will reopen when the storm has passed.
Airlines have also issued travel alerts for the storm and are letting potentially impacted passengers change their plans without fees, including United Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest
Please keep everyone in the path of the storm in your thoughts and prayers.
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