Hurricane Helene Upgraded to Category 4 Status as It Nears Florida
Hurricane Helene intensified into a Category 4 storm as it approached its anticipated landfall on Florida's northwest coast on Thursday night.
TroibNews 
Hurricane Helene intensified into a Category 4 storm as it approached Florida's northwest coast for an anticipated landfall on Thursday night. Forecasters cautioned that this colossal storm could produce a "nightmare" storm surge along with hazardous winds and heavy rainfall across a significant portion of the southeastern United States.
As reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Helene is situated approximately 144 kilometers south of Tallahassee, progressing northeast at about 38 kilometers per hour. Officials highlighted the possibility of a storm surge reaching between 4.5 to 6 meters along Florida's Gulf Coast, which poses a potentially life-threatening situation.
Currently, over 600,000 residences and businesses are experiencing power outages in Florida due to the high winds and intense rainfall that have started to impact the state, as indicated by poweroutage.us.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that models indicate Helene may make landfall further east than previously predicted, reducing the likelihood of a direct impact on Tallahassee, a metro area that houses around 395,000 residents.
The shift in the storm's trajectory now directs it towards the largely unpopulated Big Bend area, which consists of fishing communities and vacation spots where Florida’s Panhandle meets the peninsula.
The effects of the storm are being widely felt, with sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts affecting Florida's west coast. In Siesta Key near Sarasota, water overflowed onto roads, and some intersections in St. Pete Beach were submerged. Debris from a recent fire in Cedar Key washed ashore in the rising waters.
Beyond Florida, the North Carolina mountains have seen up to 25 centimeters of rainfall, with an additional 36 centimeters forecasted before the rains subside. This raises concerns about flooding that could surpass any experienced in the last century, according to meteorologists.
As a precaution, several school districts and universities have canceled classes. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee, and Clearwater were closed on Thursday, alongside numerous cancellations across Florida and beyond.
While it is anticipated that Helene may weaken as it moves inland, forecasters expect damaging winds and heavy rainfall to reach into the southern Appalachian Mountains, where landslides could occur. The hurricane center warned that many areas in the region could be faced with extended power outages and flooding, with Tennessee among the states expected to see significant rain.
Regions 160 kilometers north of the Georgia-Florida border are predicted to experience hurricane conditions. In response, the state has opened its parks to evacuees and their pets, including horses. Many cities and counties in southern Georgia have implemented overnight curfews.
"This is one of the biggest storms we've ever had," said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
As reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Helene is situated approximately 144 kilometers south of Tallahassee, progressing northeast at about 38 kilometers per hour. Officials highlighted the possibility of a storm surge reaching between 4.5 to 6 meters along Florida's Gulf Coast, which poses a potentially life-threatening situation.
Currently, over 600,000 residences and businesses are experiencing power outages in Florida due to the high winds and intense rainfall that have started to impact the state, as indicated by poweroutage.us.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that models indicate Helene may make landfall further east than previously predicted, reducing the likelihood of a direct impact on Tallahassee, a metro area that houses around 395,000 residents.
The shift in the storm's trajectory now directs it towards the largely unpopulated Big Bend area, which consists of fishing communities and vacation spots where Florida’s Panhandle meets the peninsula.
The effects of the storm are being widely felt, with sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts affecting Florida's west coast. In Siesta Key near Sarasota, water overflowed onto roads, and some intersections in St. Pete Beach were submerged. Debris from a recent fire in Cedar Key washed ashore in the rising waters.
Beyond Florida, the North Carolina mountains have seen up to 25 centimeters of rainfall, with an additional 36 centimeters forecasted before the rains subside. This raises concerns about flooding that could surpass any experienced in the last century, according to meteorologists.
As a precaution, several school districts and universities have canceled classes. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee, and Clearwater were closed on Thursday, alongside numerous cancellations across Florida and beyond.
While it is anticipated that Helene may weaken as it moves inland, forecasters expect damaging winds and heavy rainfall to reach into the southern Appalachian Mountains, where landslides could occur. The hurricane center warned that many areas in the region could be faced with extended power outages and flooding, with Tennessee among the states expected to see significant rain.
Regions 160 kilometers north of the Georgia-Florida border are predicted to experience hurricane conditions. In response, the state has opened its parks to evacuees and their pets, including horses. Many cities and counties in southern Georgia have implemented overnight curfews.
"This is one of the biggest storms we've ever had," said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
