Tropical Storm Helene Intensifies, Threatening the Gulf Coast
Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to rapidly intensify into a Category 3 hurricane, poised to strike the Gulf Coast this week as a major hurricane. Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches are currently in effect for parts of Cuba and Mexico, as well as nearly the entire Gulf Coast of Florida. The storm is expected to grow in strength, fueled by record-warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, and is projected to accelerate toward the Eastern Gulf Coast by Wednesday.
A map from the National Hurricane Center indicates the storm is expected to develop and move north through the Florida Panhandle by Thursday night, with Tallahassee at the center of the forecast path. The remnants of the storm are expected to move through Alabama and Georgia by Friday morning, passing over Huntsville and Atlanta, and continuing north into Tennessee and the Midwest over the weekend.
As of 5 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Helene was located about 45 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and 120 miles southwest of the western tip of Cuba. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving northwest at 9 mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Center.
Strong winds are expected to impact the Florida Panhandle on Thursday morning, with the storm projected to weaken as it moves into Georgia throughout the day. However, parts of the Southeast, including the Carolinas, could still experience tropical storm-force winds as the system continues moving inland.
Many coastal areas are forecast to experience dangerous storm surges, particularly between Panama City and Tampa. The coast from the Ochlockonee River to Chassahowitzka could see a surge of between 10 and 15 feet. Nearby areas may experience surges of 5 to 10 feet, while the Tampa Bay area is expected to see between 5 and 8 feet of storm surge.
The Florida Keys may experience between 1 and 3 feet of storm surge.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Know Your Zone map allows residents to input their address and learn their evacuation route in the event of flooding or other disasters. Much of Florida is expected to see one or two inches of rain, with coastal areas potentially receiving more. The Panhandle and parts of southern Georgia and Alabama may see 4 to 6 inches of rain, while the area around Tallahassee could experience up to 8 inches.
Gusty squalls are expected to sweep across Florida through Wednesday and Thursday, potentially bringing with them heavy rain, strong winds, and the possibility of a brief tornado.
