Category 4 Hurricane Helene: Thursday, Sep 26 progress report from the NHC

Article first published: Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024, 5 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024, 8 p.m. ET

The National Hurricane Center's 8 pm Thursday advisory reported that Category 4 Hurricane Helene is 80 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key Florida and 115 miles south of Tallahassee Florida, with maximum sustained wind of 130 mph. It’s moving 23 mph to the north-northeast.

"After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday." according to analysts. "Weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, but the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians."

There were numerous changes today: Helene began as a Category 2 hurricane and a Category 3 hurricane but ultimately became a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour.

YESTERDAY (Wednesday):

Yesterday, Helene developed in the Caribbean Sea, then shifted toward the Gulf of Mexico. The system reached new heights of intensity and was upgraded from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane, with winds blowing at 130 miles per hour

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

- Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo

- Tampa Bay

- Charlotte Harbor

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

- Anclote River to Mexico Beach

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

- Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

- Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas

- Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

- West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line

- Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet

- Lake Okeechobee

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

STORM SURGE: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL...15-20 ft Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...10-15 ft Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...10-15 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-10 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...5-8 ft Tampa Bay...5-8 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...4-7 ft East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? PeakSurge.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are beginning within the hurricane warning area. When the eye comes ashore, people are reminded to not venture out into the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes. Tropical storm conditions are occurring in southern and central Florida, and these conditions will be spreading northward across the tropical storm warning areas in the Southeastern U.S. through early Friday. Strong, damaging winds,

Especially in gusts, will likely penetrate as far inland as the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

RAINFALL: Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Hurricane Helene, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Ero.

For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated this storm, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS4 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc4.html.

TORNADOES: The risk for several tornadoes continues through tonight over much of Florida, southeast Georgia, central and southern South Carolina, and southern North Carolina. The tornado risk will continue Friday across the Carolinas and southern Virginia.

SURF: Swells generated by Helene will affect much of Florida and the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center

This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 11:44 AM.