9/25/2024
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September 25, 2024 updated 845 pm EDT
HELENE TO BRING SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH FRIDAY
Hurricane Helene Local Statement Advisory Number 10 NWS Peachtree City GA 517 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024
This product covers North and Central Georgia
Hurricane Helene is currently southwest of the Florida Peninsula and
is forecast to track northward and accelerate over the eastern Gulf
of Mexico through Thursday. Helene is forecast to become a major
hurricane shortly before making landfall along the Big Bend of
Florida on Thursday evening. Significant impacts are expected across
the north and central Georgia Thursday and Friday with lingering
flooding impacts over the weekend.
Rainfall amounts of 4 to 10 inches, with localized amounts over 12
inches, are expected. The highest amounts are expected over a wide
swath paralleling I-85 into northeast Georgia from Columbus to
Atlanta to Gainesville and the northeast Georgia mountains.
Widespread flooding is expected with significant flash flooding and
moderate to major river flooding possible.
Rainfall amounts of 4 to 10 inches, with localized amounts over 12
inches, are expected. The highest amounts are expected over a wide
swath paralleling I-85 into northeast Georgia from Columbus to
Atlanta to Gainesville and the northeast Georgia mountains.
Widespread flooding is expected with significant flash flooding and
moderate to major river flooding possible.
Short-lived tornadoes will also be possible across east-central
Georgia Thursday evening through early Friday morning, with greatest
potential for areas north and east of the track of Helene.
Helene will be an expansive system with impacts occurring well away
from the storm center. Preparations should be completed well before impacts begin. The time to act is now!
CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm
Warning for Laurens, Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wheeler
CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Hurricane Warning A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bibb, Bleckley, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Macon,
Marion, Muscogee, Peach, Pulaski, Schley, Stewart, Sumter,
Talbot, Taylor, Telfair, Twiggs, Webster, and Wilcox Counties
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bibb, Bleckley,
Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dodge, Harris, Houston, Laurens,
Marion, Montgomery, Muscogee, Peach, Talbot, Taylor, Telfair,
Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, and Wheeler
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Baldwin, Banks,
Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee,
Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas,
Emanuel, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Glascock,
Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris,
Heard, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones,
Lamar, Laurens, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe,
Montgomery, Morgan, Murray, Newton, North Fulton, Oconee,
Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Rockdale,
South Fulton, Spalding, Taliaferro, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen,
Troup, Union, Upson, Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington,
Wheeler, White, Whitfield, Wilkes, and Wilkinson Counties
STORM INFORMATION:
- About 790 miles south of Atlanta GA or about 670 miles
south-southwest of Cordele GA
- 22.5N 86.6W
- Storm Intensity 85 mph
- Movement North-northwest or 355 degrees at 12 mph
Potential Impacts expected in Georgia
FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
significant to extensive impacts across much of north and central
Georgia. Potential impacts include:
- Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and
rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks
in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks,
canals, arroyos, and ditches may become raging rivers. In
mountain areas, deadly runoff may rage down valleys while
increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood
control systems and barriers may become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape
routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water
with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very
dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened
or washed out.
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
significant to extensive impacts across north and central Georgia.
WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive
impacts across portions of central Georgia. Potential impacts in this
area include:
- Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed.
Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be
uninhabitable for weeks.
- Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over.
- Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and
access routes impassable.
- Large areas with power and communications outages.
Also, protect against dangerous wind having possible significant
impacts across the remainder of north and central Georgia.
TORNADOES:
Prepare for a dangerous tornado event having possible limited impacts
across east-central Georgia. Potential impacts include:
- The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots
of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
- Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or
uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about.
Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.
Elsewhere across North and Central Georgia, little to no impact is
anticipated.
EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies
kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your
home or business.
When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the
exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging
wind gusts and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the
storm.
If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large
trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or
on a boat, plan to move to safe shelter.
If you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as
near the ocean or a large inland lake, in a low-lying or poor
drainage area, in a valley, or near an already swollen river, plan to
move to safe shelter on higher ground.
Check on those who may not be fully aware of the situation or who are
unable to make personal preparations.
If you are a visitor, know the name of the county in which you are
located and where it is relative to current watches and warnings. If
staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their onsite
disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially pertaining to
area visitors.
Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news
outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes
to the forecast.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
For information on creating an emergency plan see ready.ga.gov
For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE:
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Peachtree City GA around 545 PM EDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.
Hurricane Helene Advisory Number 9A: From the National Hurricane Center Miami FL 2 pm EDT Sept 25:
At 100 PM CDT (1800 UTC), the center of Hurricane Helene was located
near latitude 22.0 North, longitude 86.4 West. Helene is moving
toward the north-northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A turn toward the
north and north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is
expected later today through Thursday, bringing the center of Helene
across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and to the Florida Big Bend coast
by Thursday evening. After landfall, Helene is expected to slow
down and turn toward the northwest over the southeastern United
States Friday and Saturday.
HELENE MOVING INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO...PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM STORM SURGE AND DAMAGING WINDS ALONG THE FLORIDA BIG BEND COAST SHOULD BE RUSHED TO
COMPLETION TODAY
LOCATION...22.0N 86.4W
ABOUT 110 MI...175 KM NNE OF COZUMEL MEXICO
ABOUT 480 MI...775 KM SSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 345 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB...28.94 INCHES
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Indian Pass southward to Flamingo
- Tampa Bay
- Charlotte Harbor
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for
Anclote River to Mexico Beach
Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico including Cozumel
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
- 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 South Santee River
- Lake Okeechobee
- Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche, Mexico
- Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- North of South Santee River to Little River Inlet
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
Key Messages for Helene can be found in the Tropical Cyclone on the web, here
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous 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.
Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...8-12 ft
Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft
Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-9 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
Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft
Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation,
see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, here.
WIND: WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the U.S. hurricane warning area late Thursday, with tropical storm conditions
beginning Thursday morning. Tropical storm conditions are
expected in southern Florida later today and will spread northward
across the rest of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina through
Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the
tropical storm watch area in South Carolina beginning on Thursday.
Hurricane conditions, especially in gusts, are expected in the
hurricane warning area in Mexico during the next several hours.
Tropical storm conditions are occurring in the warning area in Cuba,
and hurricane conditions are possible for the western portion of
Cuba today.
RAINFALL: Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over western Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and the northeast Yucatan Peninsula, with isolated totals around 12 inches. This rainfall brings a risk of considerable flooding. A 24-hour rainfall total of 8.60 inches (218.4 mm) was recently reported in
Embalse Herradura, Pinar del Rio, Cuba, by the Meteorological
Service of Cuba.
Over the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene
is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 5 to 10 inches
with isolated totals around 15 inches. This rainfall will likely
result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with areas
of significant river flooding. Landslides are possible in areas of
steep terrain in the southern Appalachians.
For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Helene, see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall
Graphic, here.
See the Flash Flood Risk graphic, here.
TORNADOES: A tornado or two may occur tonight over parts of the
Florida Peninsula and southern Alabama. The risk of tornadoes will
increase on Thursday, expanding northward across Florida into parts
of Georgia and South Carolina.
SURF: Swells generated by Helene will affect the southern coast of
Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during the next couple of
days. Swells will spread northward toward the west coast of Florida
and the northeastern Gulf Coast later today and Thursday. These
swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
NEXT ADVISORY
Next complete advisory at 400 PM CDT.
Forecaster Berg.
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