Massive Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida’s sparsely populated Big Bend region, bringing storm surge and high winds across the state’s Gulf Coast communities before ripping into southern Georgia.
Here’s what happened on Thursday night.
By the Associated Press
Authorities rescued people trapped by floodwaters and more than 3 million customers were in the dark across much of the southeastern U.S. as Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia early Friday after making landfall overnight in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm.
Helene came ashore amid warnings from the National Hurricane Center that the enormous system could create a “nightmare” storm surge. There were at least four storm-related deaths.
Helene weakens to a Tropical Storm — 5:38 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Hurricane Helene has weakened to a Tropical Storm over Georgia with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.
Helene continues to weaken while moving further inland over Georgia. The storm was about 40 miles east of Macon and about 100 miles southeast of Atlanta, moving north at 30 mph at 5 a.m., the center in Miami reported.
Helene weakens to Category 1 hurricane — 4:28 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Hurricane Helene has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm has traveled north from Florida to Georgia and was about 100 miles from Augusta and 40 miles (65 kilometers) from Macon moving at about 30 mph, the center said in a 4 a.m. update.
One person dies in Florida while driving on Interstate 4, governor says — 11:57 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there was a report of one person dying when a sign fell onto their car as they were driving on Interstate 4 in Tampa.
“It just shows you that it’s very dangerous conditions out there. You need to be, right now, just hunkering down,” he said at a news conference late Thursday.
DeSantis said more fatalities were possible as the storm advances and that 3,500 National Guardsmen were standing by to help respond.
“When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we’re going to be waking up to a state where, very likely, there’s been additional loss of life. And certainly, there’s going to be loss of property,” he said. “You’re going to have people that are going to lose their homes because of this storm. So please keep those folks in mind, keep them in your prayers.”
Helene makes landfall in northwestern Florida — 11:30 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm as forecasters warned of “catastrophic” flooding along the Gulf Coast.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Helene roared ashore around 11:10 p.m. EDT near the Perry, Florida, in the Big Bend area of the state’s Gulf Coast. It had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph).
Officials have forecast storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and warned they could be particularly “catastrophic and unsurvivable” in Florida’s Apalachee Bay.
Hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into northern Georgia and western North Carolina.
Power outages continue to rise in Florida — 11:25 p.m.
By the Associated Press
As of 11 p.m. EDT, more than 885,000 customers in Florida were without power, according to tracking site poweroutage.us.
The site’s map showed multiple counties in Florida’s Big Bend area — where Helene is expected to make landfall — where a majority of customers did not have power.
Two killed in Georgia in possible tornado as storms from Hurricane Helene hit — 11:08 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Two people have died after a possible tornado struck a mobile home in south Georgia on Thursday night, Wheeler County Sheriff Randy Rigdon told WMAZ-TV.
The damage was reported as heavy thunderstorms from Hurricane Helene raked much of the state. Wheeler County is about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Macon.
Tropical Storm Isaac will likely become a hurricane soon, forecasters say — 11:01 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Tropical Storm Isaac in the mid-Atlantic Ocean strengthened Thursday night and was expected to become a hurricane soon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The storm was moving east away from the U.S. at 12 mph (19 kph) and was 910 miles (1,470 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda. Its maximum wind speeds were 65 mph (100 kph).
There were no coastal watches or warnings associated with the storm, but the hurricane center said Bermuda was experiencing swells that could lead to life-threatening rip currents.
Helene’s turbulent eyewall begins to move ashore — 10:29 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Hurricane Helene’s eyewall has begun moving ashore in the Big Bend area of Florida’s northwestern coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The Category 4 storm is expected to produce “catastrophic winds” in the area over the next few hours, the center said.
“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the hurricane center said. “Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions.”
The center warned when the storm’s eye comes ashore, conditions will temporarily calm, but the eye’s other side will quickly arrive and produce hazardous winds again.
As of 10 p.m., the storm was 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Tallahassee, Florida, with sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph).
Power outages rapidly increase along Florida’s west coast — 8:31 p.m.
By the Associated Press
More than 500,000 homes and businesses had lost power in Florida as of 8:30 p.m., and that number is rising quickly, according to tracking site poweroutage.us.
Most outages were along the state’s west coast, where Hurricane Helene was approaching. Duke Energy, a major energy provider serving west-central Florida and the Panhandle, and Florida Power & Light Company, the state’s largest energy provider, were reporting over 150,000 outages each.
Tornado watch issued for much of Florida and southeastern Georgia — 8:08 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A tornado watch was issued late Thursday for much of Florida and southeastern Georgia, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee said.
Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Tampa and the Big Bend area, where Helene is expected to make landfall, were under the watch, as was the state’s Atlantic coast, including Orlando. The tornado watch will be in effect through early Friday morning.
Florida sees mass power outages ahead of Helene’s landfall — 7:45 p.m.
By the Associated Press
More than 340,000 homes and businesses were without power in Florida shortly as of 7:30 p.m. local time, according to tracking site poweroutage.us.
Among them were 120,000 customers of Duke Power, a major energy provider in serving west-central Florida and the Panhandle. The utility’s outage map showed most of its affected customers — some 105,000 — were concentrated in the Tampa area on the state’s Gulf Coast.
While Tampa is south of where Helene is expected to make landfall, the area was still under a storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning, with forecasters expecting dangerous surges of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) and winds topping 40 mph (64 kph).
Rain picks up near the Florida-Georgia border — 7:00 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Heavy rains began falling and winds were picking up in Valdosta, Georgia, near the Florida state line shortly before 7 p.m. ET.
The National Weather Service said more than a dozen Georgia counties could see winds exceeding 110 mph, including Lowndes County where Valdosta is located along Interstate 75.
Other inland cities in rural southern Georgia where the hurricane threat was highest included Thomasville, Moultrie and Tifton.
Biden declares state of emergency for Alabama — 6:56 p.m.
By the Associated Press
President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Alabama on Thursday ahead of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in nearby Florida.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center has said Hurricane Helene is unusually large and expected to have far-ranging impacts beyond Florida’s Big Bend, where the storm is expected to make landfall Thursday evening. The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia already declared emergencies in their states.
North Carolina officials warn of severe flooding from Helene — 6:45 p.m.
By the Associated Press
As night falls in the North Carolina mountains, emergency officials are asking anyone who lives in a place that has ever flooded to find safety at higher ground as Hurricane Helene nears land.
Flooding has already started in some areas after 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 centimeters) of rain fell from a storm unrelated to the hurricane.
Forecasters predict an additional 9 to 14 inches (23 to 36 centimeters) of rain could fall as what remains of Helene moves across the area Thursday night into Friday.
“A storm like this, we’re seeing flooding where we have never seen it before,” said Jimmy Brissie, emergency services director for Henderson County south of Asheville.
Already the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers are predicted to reach levels not seen since the benchmark flood of 1916 in western North Carolina that killed 80 people and isolated Asheville for weeks.
Emergency officials also fear mudslides as rushing water could pick up dirt and boulders and send them all cascading down mountainsides.
Florida governor says there’s still time for residents to evacuate — but not much — 6:41 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that models have Hurricane Helene making landfall most likely in a rural coastal county of almost 22,000 people in the state’s Big Bend area.
The fast-moving storm will likely reach Taylor County, Florida late Thursday, DeSantis said at an evening news conference at the state’s emergency operation center in Tallahassee.
“You’re going to have hurricane force winds for probably 50 miles outside the eye of the storm, and then you’re going to continue to see surge, particularly in that Big Bend area,” DeSantis said.
About five hours before the expected landfall, the governor said residents of vulnerable areas of northern Florida “still have time” to evacuate but that the window was shutting quickly. The governor warned residents they would likely lose power and that intercoastal bridges across the state were being closed to traffic.
Helene strengthens to a Category 4 hurricane — 6:31 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Helene strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 hurricane ahead of its expected landfall on Florida’s northwest coast Thursday night, forecasters said.
The hurricane was about 120 miles west of Tampa and had sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Category 4 hurricanes have sustained winds over 130 mph (209 kph) that can severely damage homes, snap trees and down power lines. Strong winds have already cut power to over 250,000 homes and businesses in Florida, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.
Storm surge: Deadlier than a hurricane’s winds — 5:52 p.m.
By the Associated Press
In 2005, Hurricane Dennis landed near the Alabama-Florida state line as a Category 3 hurricane. Far to the east, Florida’s Big Bend — where Hurricane Helene is expected to come ashore — never even felt tropical storm strength winds, but it was still hit with a mass of water that devasted coastal communities.
That’s storm surge. It’s more deadly and destructive than wind and can make a significant impact far from the center of a storm.
While wind can tear off roofs, knock down trees and snap power lines, storm surge can push buildings completely off their foundations, can trap and even drown people in their homes, wash out roads and bridges, toss boats inland and hammer anything in its path.
“The leading cause of death from hurricanes is water, not wind,” said Craig Fugate, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
And in the case of Hurricane Helene, predicted storm surge as high as 20 feet could be devastating in the coastal areas of the state’s Big Bend.
Atlanta’s usually bustling roads are deserted in anticipation of Helene — 5:43 p.m.
By the Associated Press
What is normally evening rush hour for metro Atlanta’s more than 6 million residents revealed a city that had already gone home to button up for Hurricane Helene.
The city’s downtown office district was nearly deserted, and normally traffic-choked freeways were all flowing freely.
Most areas of metro Atlanta received 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of rain during the day Thursday, atop heavier rain Wednesday. Forecasters extended hurricane warnings even farther north, pushing them into Atlanta’s southern exurbs, as officials continued to warn that the area is likely to see significant storm winds.
Vice President Harris urges people in Helene’s path to heed local orders — 5:22 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Vice President Kamala Harris on urged people in the storm’s path to heed the orders of local officials.
“We urge everyone who is watching at this very moment to take this storm very seriously,” she said during a gun violence prevention event in the East Room of the White House.
Florida’s busiest airport remains open despite impending storm — 5:13 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Florida’s busiest airport remained open Thursday despite Hurricane Helene being on a path to make landfall in the northern part of the state.
Orlando International Airport had a total of 65 flight cancellations, as of Thursday afternoon. Other Florida airports were closed in Tampa, Clearwater and Tallahassee because of the storm.
Passengers with canceled flights were urged to contact their airlines for information on rebooking, the airport said in a news release.
Orlando International Airport was the seventh busiest airport in the United States, and Florida’s busiest, with more than 28 million passengers boarded last year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Georgia’s governor: ‘This is one of the biggest storms we’ve ever had’ — 4:51 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Georgia officials are urging people to stay home while emergency teams disperse to manage Helene’s impact as the storm moves swiftly across the state.
“This is one of the biggest storms we’ve ever had,” Governor Brian Kemp told reporters on Thursday. “It may not be the strongest category, but from a wind field perspective and the amount of damage it has the potential to do statewide, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Extended power outages across the state are likely tonight and tomorrow, especially in South Georgia, Kemp said. The storm is expected to move through South Georgia from around sunset Thursday to sunrise Friday, and through middle Georgia between 10 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday, and through North Georgia from midnight to noon Friday.
There are currently eight emergency shelters and 30 American Red Cross teams ready to set up shelters if more are needed.”I can assure you we will respond with every asset that we have available as soon as its safe to do so,” Kemp said.
Flooding in North Carolina from Helene could be historic, forecasters say — 4:28 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Forecasters responsible for much of the North Carolina mountains say flooding in the region from Hurricane Helene could be worse than anything seen in the past century.
The National Weather Service in Greer, South Carolina, said 7 to 10 inches of rain have already fallen the past two days along a front before Helene-related storms arrive.
They predict an additional 9 to 14 inches of rain could fall as what remains of the hurricane moves across the area Thursday into Friday.
“This will be one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era,” forecasters said in a statement Thursday.
They said it could be the worst flooding since 1916 when two decaying tropical systems rained themselves out over the region causing widespread floods and mudslides that killed 80 people, wiped out dozens of miles of railroad tracks and brought down boulders that still sit in fields today. Asheville and other mountain towns were cut off for weeks.
Helene also could bring hurricane force wind gusts to the highest peaks in North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina and gusts over 60 mph to the rest of the region.
Some intersections in St. Pete Beach are already underwater — 4:31 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Some intersections in St. Pete Beach along Florida’s Gulf Coast were underwater by Thursday afternoon.
Photos posted by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office showed roads underwater in a commercial district of the beachside city located about 30 miles southwest of Tampa.
“We are already seeing concerning conditions,” the sheriff’s office posted.
Helene is a Category 3 hurricane churning toward Florida — 4:24 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Helene strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane Thursday as it barreled across the Gulf of Mexico on a path to Florida.
The hurricane was about 195 miles (315 kilometers) southwest of Tampa and had sustained winds of at least 111 mph (179 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The huge storm’s center is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida’s northwestern coast Thursday evening.
Hurricane warnings and flash flood warnings extended far beyond the coast up into south-central Georgia. The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have all declared emergencies in their states.
Helene became a tropical storm Tuesday in the western Caribbean Sea and became a hurricane Wednesday.
