Published on September 26, 2024 at 6:33 pm
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Only hours from landfall, Hurricane Helene has become a massive Category 4 hurricane.
As of 6 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said Helene held maximum sustained winds of 130 mph and was moving even faster at 23 mph to the north-northeast.
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The storm churned 120 miles west of Tampa and 165 miles south of Tallahassee.
As the hurricane inches closer, a catastrophic and deadly storm surge will start along parts of the Panhandle and Big Bend. Large waves are already slamming the West Coast of Florida, and waters will continue to rise as the storm moves northward.
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville forecasts potential flash flooding, hazardous driving and possible tornadoes in Northeast Florida.
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Helene’s winds
Power outages have doubled in the last two hours, and over 200,000 customers are now without power. Power outages will continue to increase across the state and will be widespread across the Panhandle.
JEA reported 634 outages as of 5 p.m. and Clay Electric 1,170. Florida Power & Light Co. reported 30 customers out in St. Johns County but no others in Northeast Florida.
Jacksonville International Airport remained open but cautioned travelers to check with their airlines about cancellations. Sixty-two flights were canceled in Jacksonville, according to the FlightAware tracking system.
Wind will quickly start to increase and penetrate across the Panhandle. Violent winds of at least 130 mph will affect the areas where the eye lands, especially to the right or east of the center.
Storm Surge
Up to 20 feet of storm surge is still possible across the Big Bend and parts of the Apalachicola area. Up to 8 feet of storm surge is also possible across the west portion of west-Central Florida.
Storm surge is projected at 1 to 3 feet along the Atlantic coast north of the Flagler-Volusia County line, including Jacksonville.
Flash floods likely
Rainfall will be extensive, especially across the Panhandle.
Rainfall chances in Jacksonville have declined, but moderate flooding remains possible, especially along the St. Johns River. The Hurricane Center gives Jacksonville at least a 15% chance of flash flooding.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect all along the East Coast of Florida
Some heavy rains across the state have thunderstorms embedded in them. A tornado watch has expired across South Florida but continues to be in effect for areas north of Lake Okeechobee.
Copyright 2024 Storm Center
