
Hurricane Helene made landfall last night as a Category 4/5. It is moving inland towards Georgia, downgraded to Category 2/5. Major flooding is now feared.
Updated this Friday, September 27
The hurricane made landfall early this morning French time, in the middle of the American night. It was then in category 4/5 with winds probably close to 200 km/h on this sparsely urbanized coastal area of Tampa Bay.
The storm surge would have reached, according to our initial information, 4.5 m, with wind gusts of 215 km/h.
The very strong winds affected large areas of northwest Florida and then Georgia. A million people are said to be without electricity.
The future development will be an attenuation of the violent winds which are still blowing at nearly 140 km/h in the Valdosta region (Georgia). But the authorities are now especially afraid of widespread major flooding due to the lasting persistence of torrential rains towards Tennessee.
Impacts expected beyond Florida to the Appalachians
Helene will have impacts well beyond Florida, including torrential rains and powerful winds that could cause power outages and tornadoes throughout the southeastern United States. Flood warnings have been issued for areas from Florida to the southern Appalachians, with torrential rains likely to cause landslides. Between 6 and 12 inches of rain are expected from the Gulf Coast to North Carolina. Governors in neighboring states, such as Georgia, have also declared states of emergency as the storm could bring up to 14 inches of rainfall to some areas. Pre-hurricane precipitation could already cause significant flooding well before Helene makes landfall.
This hurricane will therefore become a major hurricane in less than 24 hours, category 4. The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico partly explain this explosive nature of the hurricane's development.
Evacuation Measures and Preparedness
Evacuations have begun in several coastal areas of Florida due to potential rising waters. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in at least seven counties, with additional measures expected as the storm moves closer. Additionally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expanded the state of emergency declaration to 61 counties to facilitate preparations and coordination between local and state governments. At least 3,000 members of the Florida National Guard have been mobilized to assist with hurricane response efforts. In cities like St. Petersburg, mandatory evacuations have been ordered for some infrastructure, and protective measures, such as building flood barriers, are being prioritized. The last major hurricane to hit Florida was Ian in September 2022, which was a Category 4 hurricane with winds over 150 mph. It caused 150 deaths in the state. 2.4 million people were left without electricity in the state. This hurricane is to date the third most costly in the Atlantic basin after Katrina (2005) and Harvey (2017).
Tropical Storm Helene has formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea and is rapidly intensifying, threatening to become a major Category 4 hurricane in less than 24 hours. Currently, hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of the Florida Gulf Coast, particularly from the Anclote River to Mexico Beach. Helene is expected to make landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast, potentially in the Big Bend region, with maximum sustained winds of up to 150 mph (240 km/h). With a serious threat of damaging winds and life-threatening surges (over 20 feet), residents are urged to prepare quickly as the storm's impact could be much broader, affecting the southeastern states as well.