The eyewall of Hurricane Helene began to move ashore in Florida's Big Bend region around 10p.m. Thursday night, the National Hurricane Center said. Helene is a Category 4 storm, bearing maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour and swamping the coastline with significant storm surge.
At landfall Hurricane Helene was about 65 miles south of Tallahassee, Florida, moving north-northeast at a relatively quick 24 miles per hour.
Catastrophic and deadly storm surge was forecast to reach higher than 20 feet above ground level in parts of the Big Bend region, according to the National Hurricane Center. Life-threatening storm surge is also possible "along the remainder of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula."
The storm is forecast to turn northwest and slow down now that it's no longer over water, but it is still expected to bring hurricane conditions inland.
Catastrophic hurricane-force wind is expected over northern Florida and Southern Georgia during and after landfall, and the National Hurricane Center says "damaging wind gusts will penetrate well inland over portions of Georgia and the Carolinas Thursday tonight, particularly over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians." Tropical storm-force winds are expected as far north as North Carolina and hurricane-force winds are expected all the way north to Macon, Georgia.
Power outages were expected across the regions affected by wind.
Flash flooding and landslides are also forecast across the southern Appalachian region as the storm moves inland.
President Joe Biden on Thursday approved a pre-landfall disaster declaration for Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. The step frees up more federal resources and communication for affected states as they respond to the storm.
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What caused Helene to become so strong?
Helene spent time just before landfall over relatively warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, which provided more heat energy to the storm and increased its intensity.
There was also little wind shear to disrupt the storm's formation.
A larger storm carries potential for far-reaching effects
The National Hurricane Center has stressed that residents of the Southeastern U.S. should not focus on just the point of landfall or the storm's exact track. While the worst impacts likely will be felt at the coast, flooding, power outages and tornadoes are expected hundreds of miles inland.
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Helene is expected to quickly move ashore and reach Georgia as a hurricane early Friday. It is also expected to have a larger-than-usual wind field. These factors mean residents of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina are being urged to prepare for tropical storm conditions.
"Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected within the eyewall of Helene when it makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend region later today. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed this morning before tropical storm conditions arrive. Damaging and life-threatening hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, will penetrate well inland over portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia later today and tonight where Hurricane Warnings are in effect," said National Hurricane Center forecaster Jack Beven. "Strong wind gusts are also likely farther north across portions of northern Georgia and the Carolinas, particularly over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians."
Impacts to travel
Tampa International Airport suspended operations early Thursday morning ahead of the storm. Tallahassee International Airport has also suspended operations for Thursday. Both airports will reopen when it is safe to do so.
Many airlines at Southwest Florida International Airport, which serves the Fort Myers region, suspended operations on Thursday.
Sarasota Airport is open, but many flights have been canceled or delayed.
Also, there have not been any major delays on interstates in Florida. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office said Highway Patrol is "patrolling interstate systems to ensure appropriate traffic flow while supporting evacuation efforts."
