Topline
Hurricane Helene has moved significantly inland since making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 storm Thursday, and had crossed the Georgia border into Tennessee as of late Friday morning where it will bring “historic and catastrophic flooding” to the southern Appalachians.
Key Facts
The center of Helene, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm since making landfall, was located about 100 miles east of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as of 10:30 a.m. EDT Friday, the National Hurricane Center said, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
A tropical storm warning for the Georgia coast and all storm surge warnings have been discontinued, though tropical storm conditions are still occurring along much of the South Carolina coast.
Heavy rain is falling over portions of the central and southern Appalachians and the region can expect total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches.
Tornadoes are possible Friday through parts of eastern Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Virginia, and tropical storm conditions are expected to persist along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Asheville and McDowell counties in North Carolina as rivers and reservoirs are expected to swell from heavy rainfall, and multiple schools in Kentucky and Indiana will be closed Friday as winds and heavy rain pelt the region.
Helene is expected to slow soon and and stall over the Tennessee Valley tonight and through the weekend.
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Key Background
Hurricane Helene first made landfall at around 11:10 p.m. EDT Thursday near the city of Perry in Florida’s Big Bend area. The storm moved through Florida and Georgia so far, leaving at least 14 people dead, according to the New York Times. Seven deaths have been confirmed in Florida, at least two by drowning; six in Georgia and one in North Carolina.Millions are without power. A flash flood emergency has been issued in Atlanta, where social media video shows dramatic rescues.
What Is Storm Surge?
Storm surge is the “abnormal rise of water generated by a storm” that exceeds the normal tide, according to the National Weather Service. Surges are caused by strong onshore winds from a tropical storm or hurricane, and storm surge from tropical cyclones is the leading cause of fatalities from hurricanes, the National Hurricane Center said.
Is Helene Impacting Airlines?
The Tampa International Airport closed to the public at 2 a.m. EDT Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene but resumed operations Friday morning. The storm didn’t cause any significant damage to the airport.
Tangent
Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes weeks after Francine made landfall as a Category 2 in Louisiana on Sept. 11. Forecasters this year predicted the busiest storm season (from June 1 to Nov. 30) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever forecasted—up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes—but the season hasn’t been as active as predicted so far.
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