Atlanta’s positioning relative to Hurricane Helene resulted in lower wind levels, despite significant rainfall causing flooding. The storm weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall in Florida and tracked east of the city, allowing Atlanta to evade the worst of the winds.
Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, at 11:10 p.m. on Thursday as a powerful Category 4 storm. By 8 a.m. on Friday, it had weakened and was located over Bowman, Georgia, approximately 84 miles east of Atlanta. The storm’s eye shifting eastward placed Atlanta on the “left side” of the storm, which is typically less intense.
In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes rotate counterclockwise, with strongest winds and severe weather occurring on the right side of the storm’s eye, often referred to as the “dirty” side.” Many areas in Florida, southeast Georgia, and parts of the Carolinas experienced stronger winds, while Atlanta remained on the weaker left side.
The flooding in Atlanta was exacerbated by two days of rainfall prior to Helene’s arrival, which saturated the ground and led to swollen rivers and creeks. Continued heavy rains from the storm worsened the situation as the storm’s slow movement kept rainfall in the same areas.
After passing through Georgia, Helene continued north into Clay County, North Carolina, eventually reaching Tennessee and Kentucky while moving northwest. Its weakening minimized damage in these areas compared to the destruction seen in Florida and along the Southeast coast, though flooding issues persisted.
Meanwhile, other storms in the Atlantic hurricane season, including Joyce and Isaac, have formed, but neither is currently forecasted to impact the U.S. East Coast.