Hurricane Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida late Thursday night as a Category 4 storm, prompting warnings of a “nightmare” storm surge accompanied by dangerous winds and rain across a large portion of the southeastern United States. The National Hurricane Center reported that Helene struck near the mouth of the Aucilla River in Florida’s Big Bend region at approximately 11:10 p.m. EDT, with maximum sustained winds reaching 140 mph (225 kph).
As the storm approached land, power outages affected nearly 900,000 homes and businesses in Florida, according to power tracking services. In preparation for the severe weather, governors in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Virginia declared states of emergency.
In Florida, one fatality was reported due to a sign falling on a vehicle, while two individuals died in a potential tornado incident in southern Georgia. Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis voiced concerns over possible additional loss of life and property damage in a news briefing.
The National Weather Service had issued an “extreme wind warning” for the Big Bend area, advising residents to take shelter. Helene’s impact was felt along the Florida west coast, with reports of rising waters and debris along coastal roads and intersections.
Further inland, the storm was expected to bring heavy rainfall with predictions of up to 14 inches (36 centimeters) in some areas, raising concerns about severe flooding. Parts of Georgia were also warned about hurricane-force winds.
As tornados formed during the storm, residents in affected counties were advised to take appropriate safety measures. Those who chose not to evacuate were urged to write identifying information on themselves in case they were separated from their families during the storm.
While some opted to stay behind, many other residents heeded mandatory evacuation orders for low-lying coastal areas. Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee, and Clearwater closed ahead of the storm, with widespread cancellations reported across Florida.
As Helene moves inland, forecasters predict it will weaken, but expect that heavy rain and damaging winds will still affect areas into the southern Appalachian Mountains, where the risk of landslides could increase.
Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which has been marked by warmer ocean temperatures that have contributed to active storm activity. Additionally, Tropical Storm Isaac has formed in the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen, while former Hurricane John has reformed into a hurricane and poses further threats to Mexico’s western coast.