Top line
Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday evening in Big Bend, Florida, as a Category 4 storm, knocking out power to more than a million homes and businesses and causing at least one death in the state as the National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening winds and catastrophic storm surges.
Hurricane Helene rapidly intensified to reach Category 4 over the Gulf of Mexico.
Key facts
According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane made landfall with maximum sustained wind speeds of 140 mph.
The landfall occurred around 11:10 p.m. EDT near the town of Perry in Florida’s Big Bend region.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at least one person had been killed so far after the powerful storm knocked a sign off their car as they drove on Interstate 4 in Tampa.
The impacts of this massive hurricane are expected to extend far inland, with forecasters expecting “far inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the southeastern United States, including including strong gusts over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.”
“Catastrophic and life-threatening” storm surge levels are expected for parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, with a peak of 15 to 20 feet of surge expected between Carrabelle and the Suwannee River, while Tampa Bay will receive 5 at 8 feet wave, according to forecasters, with “destructive waves” possible as the wave increases.
Much of Florida’s Gulf Coast is under a tropical storm warning, along with the Florida Keys and the state’s entire Atlantic coast, as well as the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina .
Warnings extend well inland: Tropical storm warnings extend north to cover cities like Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina, and significant rainfall could produce “flash and urban flooding catastrophic and life-threatening events, including landslides” in the southern Appalachians.
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What is a storm surge?
Storm surge is an “abnormal rise of water generated by a storm” that exceeds the normal tide, according to the National Weather Service. Surges are caused by strong onshore winds from a tropical storm or hurricane, and storm surges from tropical cyclones are the leading cause of hurricane deaths, the National Hurricane Center said.
How big is the storm surge expected?
Nearly the entire Florida Gulf Coast is under a storm surge warning. In its 2 p.m. update, the NHC warned that rising waters could cause water to rise 15 to 20 feet from Carrabelle, Florida, to the Suwannee River; 10 to 15 feet from Apalachicola to Carrabelle and the Suwannee River to Chassahowitzka; 8 to 12 feet from Chassahowitzka to the Anclote River; and 6 to 10 feet from Indian Pass to Apalachicola. Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor are expected to experience surges reaching 5 to 8 feet and 3 to 5 feet, respectively.
How much rain should Helen bring?
Six to 12 inches of rain are expected in the storm-affected areas of the southeastern United States, with isolated totals of up to 20 inches, which “will likely lead to catastrophic lightning and urban flooding and potentially fatalities, as well as significant flooding of rivers. »
Did Hélène provoke evacuation orders in Florida?
Yes. As of Thursday afternoon, the Florida Division of Emergency Management said mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders had been issued in dozens of counties, with 22 mandatory evacuation orders.
Does Hélène have an impact on airlines?
Tampa International Airport closed to the public at 2 a.m. Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Helene and will reopen once the storm passes. Airlines have issued travel alerts about the storm and are allowing potentially affected passengers to change their plans at no cost, including United Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and Frontier.
Crucial quote
“Catastrophic and life-threatening storm surge is likely along portions of Florida’s Big Bend coast,” the National Hurricane Center noted. “Preparations to protect life and property are expected to be completed by Thursday morning.”
Key context
Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes a few weeks after Francine made landfall as a Category 2 in Louisiana on September 11. Forecasters have predicted this year’s busiest storm season (June 1 to November 30) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has already predicted up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes, but the season has not been as active as expected so far.
Further reading
