Topline
Hurricane Helene strengthened Thursday into a Category 3 hurricane ahead of what forecasters warn will be a devastating landfall in Florida, with the National Hurricane Center urging “preparations to protect life and property” be “rushed to completion.”
Hurricane Helene strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico as it approached landfall in Florida.
Key Facts
Hurricane Helene—located about 170 miles west-southwest of Tampa—strengthened to have maximum sustained winds of 120 mph as of the National Hurricane Center’s 3 p.m. EDT update.
A hurricane warning has been issued for the Florida Gulf Coast from Anclote River to Mexico Beach, with a storm surge warning also in effect from Mexico Beach to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
Helene is forecast to makes landfall Thursday evening in the Big Bend area of Florida, possibly just south of Tallahassee, but the impacts of the massive hurricane will reach far inland, with forecasters expecting a “far inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the southeastern United States, including strong gusts over higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.”
“Catastrophic and deadly” levels of storm surge are expected for parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, with a peak of 15-20 feet of surge predicted between Carrabelle and the Suwannee River, while Tampa Bay will get 5-8 feet of surge, according to forecasters, with “destructive waves” possible as the surge pushes in.
Much of Florida’s Gulf Coast is under a tropical storm warning, along with the Florida Keys and the entirety of the state’s Atlantic coast, as well as the coastlines of Georgia and South Carolina.
Alerts extend well inland—tropical storm warnings reach northward to cover cities like Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina, and significant rainfall could produce “catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, including landslides” across the southern Appalachians.
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What Is Storm Surge?
Storm surge is the “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 surge from tropical cyclones is the leading cause of fatalities from hurricanes, the National Hurricane Center said.
How Much Storm Surge Is Expected?
Almost the entire Florida Gulf Coast is under a storm surge warning. In its 2 p.m. update, NHC warned the surge could cause water to reach 15-20 feet from Carrabelle, Florida, to Suwannee River; 10-15 feet from Apalachicola to Carrabelle and Suwannee River to Chassahowitzka; 8-12 feet from Chassahowitzka to Anclote River; and 6-10 feet from Indian Pass to Apalachicola. Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor are expected to have surges reaching 5-8 feet and 3-5 feet, respectively.
How Much Rain Is Helene Expected To Bring?
Six to 12 inches of rain are expected across parts of the southeastern U.S. affected by the storm, with isolated totals up to 20 inches, which “will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding.”
Has Helene Caused 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.
Is Helene Impacting Airlines?
The Tampa International Airport closed to the public at 2 a.m. Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene and will reopen when the storm has passed. Airlines have issued travel alerts for the storm and are letting potentially impacted passengers change their plans without fees, including United Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and Frontier.
Crucial Quote
“A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast,” the National Hurricane Center noted. “Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday.”
Key Background
Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes weeks after Francine made landfall as a Category 2 in Louisiana on Sept. 11. Forecasters this year predicted the busiest storm season (from June 1 to Nov. 30) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever forecasted—up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes—but the season hasn’t been as active as predicted so far.