Hurricane Helene strengthens, targets Florida with ‘catastrophic’ wind, surge threat
- by The Denver Post
- Sep 26, 2024
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Hurricane-force winds extend out 60 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend out 345 miles from the center.
The forecast intensity has it reaching Category 3 major hurricane strength with 120 mph sustained winds and 145 mph gusts by Thursday night ahead of landfall, but it could intensify further.
“Forward speed is picking up now,” said NHC Director Michael Brennan. “That speed is going to continue to increase to over 20 mph by the time Helene makes landfall later this evening … We’ve seen data from both the NOAA and Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft that shows Helene his strengthening, getting better organized, forming an eye wall, and we’re expecting steady to rapid intensification to continue. Before Helene makes landfall later tonight as a Category 3 or possibly even Category 4 hurricane, but the impacts are what’s going to be most important.”
A Category 4 hurricane would mean 130 mph sustained winds and gusts of 160 mph. Brennan warned for those powerful winds north of landfall up into the Tallahassee area and even further into Georgia.
“Everybody in that region needs to be prepared for hurricane-force winds, the potential for long-duration, widespread power outages, structural damage, tree damage, trees falling on homes, out on cars or people if you’re outside, and the potential for catastrophic wind damage near where the core of Helene makes landfall on the Florida Big Bend coast.”
“As a result, storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts will extend well away from the center and outside the forecast cone, particularly on the east side,” Beven said. “In addition, the fast forward speed when Helene moves inland will result in a far inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the southeastern United States, including strong gusts over higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. … A higher-than-normal gust factor is indicated in the official forecast while Helene is inland.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at a 9 a.m. press conference from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee with a status update.
“This is a very large storm, so you’re going to see tropical weather that’s going to extend hundreds of miles away from the center of the storm,” he said.
But even though landfall will be in North Florida, Gulf Coast cities including Sarasota and Tampa are not out of danger.
Charles Starling, a lineman with Team Fishel, is pelted with rain as he walks by a row of electrical line trucks staged in a field in The Villages on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Thousands of the trucks are staged by Duke Energy in preparation for damage from Hurricane Helene. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Rough conditions in Deerfield Beach as strong winds from Hurricane Helene churn the water on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. South Florida will be spared a direct hit, while the state’s Big Bend braces for impact. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Vera Kelly, of Tallahassee, lies on a cot after evacuating to a hurricane shelter with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, at Fairview Middle School, ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall here today, in Leon County, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
In this aerial view, vehicles drive through a flooded street as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
An AquaFence set up to protect against storm surge is inspected at Tampa General Hospital, which stands on Davis Island across from downtown, in Tampa, Fla., Sept. 26, 2024. Florida’s Gulf Coast residents woke to pouring rain from an endless blanket of grey clouds as streets begin to flood in the path of Hurricane Helene’s approach. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
Darren Archer works on tying down a cover over a boat named the Susan D. docked in St. Marks, Fla. on Thursday Sept. 26, 2024. Archer, who works for the St. Marks Seafood company, plans to ride out Hurricane Helene on a boat. (AP Photo/Kate Payne)
Crum’s Mini Mall in the coastal town of Panacea, Fla., is boarded up Thursday Sept. 26, 2024 ahead of Hurricane Helene’s expected arrival. (AP Photo/Kate Payne)
A surfer rides a wave kicked up as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on Sept. 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Later today, Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane, bringing the potential for deadly storm surges, flooding rain, and destructive hurricane-force winds along parts of the Florida West Coast. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Vehicles drive along a flooded street as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Cynthia Centeno, of Tallahassee sits with her family inside a hurricane evacuation shelter at Fairview Middle School, ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall here today, in Leon County, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Windsurfers take advantage of strong winds from Hurricane Helene in Pompano Beach on Thursday morning, Sept. 26, 2024. South Florida will be spared a direct hit while the state’s Big Bend braces for impact. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Vera Kelly, of Tallahassee, lies on a cot after evacuating to a hurricane shelter with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, at Fairview Middle School, ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall here today, in Leon County, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
People look out at the waves from the Gulf of Mexico pushing up against the shore as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Bob and Lisa Danzey, residents, look out at the water from their golf cart ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall here today, in Shell Point Beach, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The Gulf of Mexico’s water pushes up against the beach as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
A person looks out at the Gulf of Mexico waters as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on Sept. 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Later today, Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane, bringing the potential for deadly storm surges, flooding rain, and destructive hurricane-force winds along parts of the Florida West Coast. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Jose Gonzales and his son Jadin Gonzales, 14, fill sand bags ahead of Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall Thursday evening, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Clyattville, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
The Gulf of Mexico water pushes up against the shore as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on Sept. 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Later today, Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane, bringing the potential for deadly storm surges, flooding rain, and destructive hurricane-force winds along parts of the Florida West Coast. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Doorways barricaded to protect against flooding ahead of Hurricane Helene in Gulfport, near St. Petersburg, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Florida’s Gulf Coast residents woke to pouring rain from an endless blanket of grey clouds as streets begin to flood in the path of Hurricane Helene’s approach. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
People line up for breakfast at a Burger King drive-thru in Tallahassee on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, as they wait for Hurricane Helene. (Jeff Schweers/Orlando Sentinel)
Waves from the Gulf of Mexico crash on shore as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on Sept. 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Later today, Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane, bringing the potential for deadly storm surges, flooding rain, and destructive hurricane-force winds along parts of the Florida West Coast. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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