I can't express how serious this storm has become for our area. The storm has taken a shift to the west, this puts Meriwether County on the bad side of the storm. The National Weather Service is calling this to have very dangerous winds.
Please take the time and watch the NWS Weather Briefing for 12:30 today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s3aiz0TmLI
Hurricane Helene is currently pushing past the coast of Yucatan, near Cancún, and is on track to make landfall in the Big Bend region of the Florida Panhandle on Thursday evening. The storm is expected to continue intensifying as it tracks over the Gulf and makes landfall as a major hurricane (Cat 3+). Landfall is expected to occur between Port St. Joe and Steinhatchee.
Wednesday, 9/25
Storms ahead of Helene’s main rain bands are beginning to move through southern Florida. Storm coverage is expected to increase throughout the day, impacting central Florida in the afternoon and northern Florida by this evening. There is a slight risk of some spin-up tornadoes and waterspouts across Florida in the late evening and overnight hours as the center of circulation gets closer to the peninsula.
Thursday, 9/26
Widespread showers and storms will overspread Florida and begin pushing into southern Georgia and southwestern South Carolina in the early morning hours on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in Florida by late Thursday morning. Northern extent of rainfall will increase throughout the day as Helene pushes north and her rain bands interact with a front moving in from the west. By Thursday afternoon, widespread showers are expected over Florida, Georgia, eastern Alabama, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and west central North Carolina.
As with any hurricane, there is a risk of spin-up tornadoes, particularly on the northeast side of the circulation. The highest risk region for tornadoes is centered on the South-Carolina-Georgia coastal border. However, the bigger concern is flash flooding, which is possible throughout the southeast. The highest risk for flash flooding will be on the North-Carolina-Georgia-South-Carolina border. However, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida are all at risk of seeing damaging flash floods.
Landfall is expected to occur Thursday evening around 7pm to 9pm. Hurricane-force winds are expected throughout the Florida Big Bend and into south central Georgia. Due to Helene’s large wind field, areas of eastern Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina can expect to see winds in excess of 35 mph.
Storm surge is expected to reach 10 to 15 ft in the Carrabelle to Chassahowitzka region. Coastal areas between Chassahowitzka and the mouth of the Anclote River, along with Carrabelle to Indian Pass can expect to see 6 to 10 ft of storm surge. The Tampa Bay region will see 4 to 8 ft. Storm surge will be 2 to 5 ft in the Charlotte Harbor and Mexico Beach Regions. The Keys and Dry Tortugas, along with the region of the East Coast from the mouth of the South Santee River to Palm Coast can expect to see 1 to 3 ft of storm surge.
Friday, 9/27
Helene is expected to weaken after making landfall. Rain should begin to clear out of northern Florida, southern Alabama, southern Georgia, and southeastern South Carolina by Friday morning. Southern Florida could continue to see trailing thunderstorms from rain bands wrapping down the Atlantic.
By Friday morning, the center of circulation is expected to be over northern Georgia. The fast motion of the system will allow 40 mph wind gusts to stretch further north into Tennessee and North Carolina throughout the morning and early afternoon on Friday. Rain showers are expected to continue over the southeastern states throughout the day on Friday, with showers slowly breaking up in the afternoon and rain clearing up as far north as Tennessee and North Carolina by midnight on Friday.