The big picture: The deadly hurricane weakened to a Category 1 storm by 2am ET, but “life-threatening storm surge,” winds and heavy rains continued amid multiple water rescues across Florida.
- There’s been at least one storm-related death in the state and two others in Georgia since the strongest storm ever recorded in the Big Bend coast struck.
Threat level: The huge storm was forecast to bring an unprecedented 15- to 20-foot storm surge to Florida’s Big Bend area and high winds to all of the state, as the storm plowed inland with hurricane-force wind gusts hitting north Georgia. Hurricane warnings were in effect for parts of metro Atlanta.
- The National Weather Service called the maximum storm surge forecast for the Big Bend region “catastrophic and unsurvivable.” The surge has already begun along the west coast of the state.
- Flooding rains were affecting the southern Appalachians, with rainfall totals around 15 inches expected in western North Carolina. Such rainfall amounts will cause landslides and historic flooding.
- Tampa Bay was forecast to see one of its most severe storm surge events on record, with up to 8 feet of surge.
The Atlanta metro area faced one of its most significant encounters with a hurricane or tropical storm on record, with hurricane-force wind gusts anticipated.
- These winds could lead to widespread tree damage…..
image…Satellite view of Hurricane Helene as it intensified over the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 26. Image: CIRA/RAMMB
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.