Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4

Friday update: Hurricane Helene came onshore as a Cat 4

Late Thursday night, Hurricane Helene came onshore near Perry, Florida, as a strong Category 4 storm. The hurricane has brought an almost-incredible storm surge to that coast, washing away homes. And its winds have taken down trees, causing widespread power outages and blocked roads in the area. As of Friday morning, the storm is now Tropical Storm Helene and is centered over the Carolinas. Georgia and the Carolinas are experiencing high winds and flash flooding. The National Hurricane Center warned residents of the Appalachians to expect landslides. Atlanta has declared a flash flood emergency.

Over 3.2 million electric customers are currently without power due to #HurricaneHelene.
1.2 million out in #Florida
936k out in #Georgia
849k out #SouthCarolina
264k out #NorthCarolina
[2024-09-27 6:56 AM EDT] https://t.co/8cAFt3zGJe #PowerOutage pic.twitter.com/7EZmp53KEq

— PowerOutage.us (@PowerOutage_us) September 27, 2024

At 5:37 am, a Hurricane Force wind gust of 82 mph was observed at Augusta Regional Airport (KAGS). We are no longer receiving observations from this location. #Helene

— NWS Columbia (@NWSColumbia) September 27, 2024

#hurricanehelene in Cedar Key, #Florida. @jpetramala pic.twitter.com/OuRtsUFvhB

— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) September 27, 2024

DEVASTATING ? Pinellas County battled multiple fires early Thursday morning, particularly in coastal neighborhoods. Firefighters couldn't access many of them because of flooding.
It comes as downed power lines cause outages across Tampa Bay: https://t.co/H2vmMDK7nf pic.twitter.com/UVOgNoUPxS

— 10 Tampa Bay (@10TampaBay) September 27, 2024

CRAZY TREE TUNNEL!!! Interstate I-10 East (and West) between Tallahassee and Lake City Florida blocked by dozens of fallen trees for several hours from #HurricaneHelene @ReedTimmerUSA @JimCantore pic.twitter.com/FMxxcn1b4j

— Chris FL Tornado (@ChrisFLTornado) September 27, 2024

As #HurricaneHelene continues, the AquaFence at TGH stands firm. The water-impermeable barrier is designed to withstand storm surge up to 15 feet. It has worked through multiple rain events to prevent storm waters from impacting hospital operations. #WeAreTGH #StormWatch pic.twitter.com/papsd6oPg2

— Tampa General Hospital (@TGHCares) September 27, 2024

ALERT (7:20ET): FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCIES have been issued in Metro ATL. Torrential rain has occurred now for nearly 40+ hours. This is a *life-threatening* situation!

Those in flood prone shaded areas in #Atlanta, #Joneseboro, #Decatur, #Norcross should seek higher ground. #gawx pic.twitter.com/jTsQXTT1cP

— Jackson Fuentes (@Jfuenteswx) September 27, 2024

No power at UNC Asheville, and the sound of trees falling and generators arcing. Also this sustained orange flashing that I haven’t seen before. #ncwx #helene pic.twitter.com/Nvt2FHBsCz

— Andrew Price (@andrewprice0311) September 27, 2024

Mind blowing to see two hurricanes, #HurricaneJohn on the left (west coast of Mexico), and #HurricaneHelene (Big Bend region of Florida) on the right, both making landfall at nearly the same time. #Helene #Johnpic.twitter.com/5nf644NKi8

— Dylan Raines (@RainesOfEarth) September 27, 2024

Thursday update: Helene to strike with ‘catastrophic and unsurvivable’ storm surge

Fast-moving Hurricane Helene barreled northward across the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. It is due to strike in the Big Bend area of Florida (northwestern Florida) late today or early Friday as a Category 4 storm. As of early Thursday, the governors of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas have all declared emergencies in their states. The National Weather Service on X said it expected forecast storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and warned they could be particularly “catastrophic and unsurvivable” in Florida’s Apalachee Bay. High winds will accompany the storm. The National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory (#12, 4 a.m. Thursday) said:

HELENE STRENGTHENING AND EXPECTED TO BRING CATASTROPHIC WINDS AND STORM SURGE TO THE NORTHEASTERN GULF COAST…PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

According to CBS News early Thursday morning:

Helene had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph overnight Thursday, making it a Category 1 storm. Winds of 96-110 mph would make it a Category 2 and it would be classified as a Category 3 — and major hurricane — with winds of 111-129 mph.

CBS News senior weather and climate producer David Parkinson called Helene a “gargantuan” storm.

OMG!! I've never seen a warning like this ever! ?#HurricaneHelen pic.twitter.com/f8FYRtf4kG

— Volcaholic ? (@volcaholic1) September 26, 2024

Wednesday update: Helene to reach Category 3 or stronger

UPDATE September 25 00:00 UTC (7 p.m. CDT): Helene reached hurricane strength Wednesday morning. The storm system is still rapidly strengthening. Forecasters expect it to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast – in the Big Bend area – late Thursday as a major hurricane. Helene should reach a Category 3 storm or possibly greater. Tuesday night, forecasters said Helene’s progression in wind speed has been explosive and the fastest ever predicted by the National Hurricane Center. Beaches in Cancun, Mexico, have already emptied. Thousands in Florida are fleeing as Helene approaches.

 The National Hurricane Center’s most recent advisory (#10a, 7 p.m., September 25) said:

At 700 PM CDT (0000 UTC), the center of Hurricane Helene was located
near latitude 23.0 North, longitude 86.6 West. Helene is moving
toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h). A northward or
north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected
during the next 36 hours. On the forecast track, Helene will move
across the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and Thursday and cross the
Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening. After landfall, Helene is
expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee
Valley on Friday and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher
gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a
major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday
evening. Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene’s fast
forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in
gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United
States, including over the higher terrain of the southern
Appalachians.

Hurricane Helene expected to be strongest of 2024 so far

Helene is expected to become the strongest storm to hit the United States in more than a year. It will be the 4th hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this year and the 5th to hit Florida since 2022.

Even before the storm comes ashore, forecasters expect the storm to widen, with people along the west coast of Florida feeling the impact of the storm’s outer bands on Wednesday.

The new experimental cone graphic shows the extent of impacts #Helene will bring to the U.S. This includes the hurricane warning which extends well inland from the coast. pic.twitter.com/OMe3lxN1tL

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 25, 2024

Here’s the updated Hurricane #Helene track and intensity forecast. Expected to now peak around 125mph and landfall tomorrow Also note the uptick in storm surge. Now 12-18 feet in the Big Bend of #Florida pic.twitter.com/Sjx5nSyH3a

— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) September 25, 2024

Breaking Weather: The hotels and apartments just SW of Tampa airport is now being evacuated. Rock Point area Zone A hotel staff started call on phone and going room to room everyone has to leave the hotel immediately by 3:00 PM. I will have live update asap. #HurricaneHelene…

— Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) September 25, 2024

Long lines of traffic coming out of the Tampa Bay area into central Florida. #Helene will cause major issues along the entire Florida Gulf Coast, evacuate if told to do so! pic.twitter.com/rOrIettMFn

— Bryce Shelton (@BryceShelton01) September 25, 2024

Helene batters Mexico

The Yucatan and other nearby areas of the Caribbean have already felt the force of Helene’s winds and rain.

Heavy rain and wind battered Isla Mujeres as #Helene moved through Wednesday morning.

Currently a category 1 hurricane, Helene is forecasted to strengthen into a major hurricane before landfall in the Big Bend of Florida. pic.twitter.com/rKAQTBFl8Q

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 25, 2024

The "hotel zone" in Cancun, Mexico this morning….#Helene pic.twitter.com/Q0NlfWN3dF

— Volcaholic ? (@volcaholic1) September 25, 2024

Dangerous potential from the start

There are four stages to the development of a tropical cyclone. They start with a tropical disturbance and then progress to a tropical depression, tropical storm and then finally a hurricane if the winds reach 74 miles per hour (119 kph) or more.

Helene began making news while it was still in the stage of a potential tropical cyclone, even before becoming a named storm. The National Weather Service uses this term for weather systems that pose a threat to land within 48 hours. Part of what will fuel the hurricane is that the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are extremely warm. The region is experiencing record temperatures this year.

This disturbed area started forming in the Caribbean Sea between Jamaica and the Yucatan Peninsula. It has strengthened as it travels north, and it should hit the Big Bend in Florida as a major hurricane.

Stay updated on this storm system as it strengthens and moves closer to land.

Bottom line: Hurricane Helene hit Florida as a category 4 storm near Perry. The storm surge has washed away homes and winds have caused power outages. More here.

Read more: 2024 list of Atlantic hurricane names