Friday, Sep 27 update from the NHC: Latest on Tropical Storm Helene

Article first published: Friday, Sep. 27, 2024, 5 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Friday, Sep. 27, 2024, 8 a.m. ET

On Friday at 8 am, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that Helene has reached new lows of intensity and has downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Helene is 35 miles south-southwest of Clemson South Carolina and 80 miles east-northeast of Atlanta Georgia, with maximum sustained wind of 60 mph. It’s moving 30 mph to the north.

"Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley later today and Saturday." forecasters noted. "Continued weakening is expected, and Helene is expected to become a post-tropical low this afternoon or tonight."

Helene has lost strength and has downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 miles per hour.

YESTERDAY (Thursday):

Yesterday, there were several developments, particularly at night: first, Helene started out as a Category 2 hurricane, a Category 3 hurricane and a Category 4 hurricane but eventually became a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 miles per hour. Helene first crossed the Gulf of Mexico, transited Florida and entered Georgia

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Warning along the Florida Gulf Coast from the mouth of the Suwannee River to Indian Pass has been discontinued.

The Tropical Storm Warning along the east coast of Florida and extreme southeastern Georgia from the Flagler/Volusia County Line to Altamaha Sound has been discontinued. The Storm Surge Warning for the Florida coast has been discontinued south of the Middle of Longboat Key.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

- Indian Pass to Middle of Longboat Key, Florida

- Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

- Altamaha Sound northward to Little River Inlet

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

STORM SURGE: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Aucilla River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...5-10 ft Indian Pass, FL to Aucilla River, FL...3-6 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...3-5 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? PeakSurge.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring along much of the Georgia and South Carolina coasts, and these conditions will continue for the next several hours. Strong, damaging winds,

Especially in gusts, will also continue as far inland as the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

RAINFALL: Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant and record river flooding. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Hurricane Helene, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Ero.

For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated this storm, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS4 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc4.html.

TORNADOES: Tornadoes are possible this morning over parts of eastern Georgia, and through this afternoon over the Carolinas and southern Virginia.

SURF: Swells generated by Helene will affect the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas during the next day or so. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center

This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Friday, Sep 27 update from the NHC: Latest on Tropical Storm Helene."