Hurricane Helene live updates: 6 dead, 3 million without power

Helene -- which weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia on Friday morning -- made landfall as a massive Category 4 hurricane Thursday night, slamming into the Big Bend region of Florida with 140 mph winds.

The monster storm has pushed through Florida into Georgia and the Carolinas, leaving at least six people dead and millions without power. The region is facing significant flooding, with more rain expected Friday as Helene moves toward Tennessee.

Latest Developments

_{Sep 27, 7:59 AM}

More than 3 million without power across the South

More than 3 million customers are waking up without power across the South Friday morning in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

More than 1.1 million customers are without power in Florida and another 1.1 million are without power in South Carolina.

More than 1 million lost power in Georgia and another 400,000 are without power in North Carolina.

_{Sep 27, 8:05 AM}

Flash flood emergency issued in Atlanta

A flash flood emergency has been issued in Atlanta, where 4 to 6 inches of rain has fallen so far.

More than 25 people have been rescued from floodwaters in Atlanta, officials said.

Another 1 or 2 inches is possible, and the rainfall rate is expected to be 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour, the National Weather Service said.

The life-threatening "flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly," the NWS warned.

Residents are urged to seek higher ground.

Atlanta Public Schools are closed on Friday.

Flash flood emergencies are also in effect in Asheville, North Carolina, and Clemson, South Carolina.

_{Sep 27, 7:11 AM}

Helene death toll rises to 6

At least six people have died as Hurricane Helene slams the South.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, one person was killed and another was injured when a tree fell on a house, according to the Mecklenburg EMS Agency.

Two people died in Laurens County in central Georgia, according to local officials. Two others died in nearby Wheeler County, Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that one person was killed on the I-4 highway near Tampa when a sign fell on a car.

-ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway

_{Sep 27, 6:55 AM}

Mandatory evacuations ordered amid 'catastrophic rain' in North Carolina

Mandatory evacuations are in place for some residents of Asheville in western North Carolina as severe flooding from Hurricane Helene hits the state.

Evacuations were ordered for the Swannanoa River Valley area due to a high risk of flooding from the "catastrophic rain," officials said.

Parts of the state have recorded up to 15 inches of rain, with more expected through Friday. Some areas are expecting as much as 20 inches of rain through the course of the storm. Dangerous landslides are also expected.

Water rescues and flooded homes have been reported in Haywood County, just west of Asheville.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

_{Sep 27, 6:21 AM}

200 rescued from rising waters in Pasco County, Florida

About 200 people have been rescued overnight from the rising floodwaters in Pasco County, Florida, just north of Tampa, according to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

The water is receding Friday morning and rescue calls have slowed, authorities said.

_{Sep 27, 5:14 AM}

Helene weakens to tropical storm

Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm around 100 miles southeast of Atlanta early on Friday, as its sustained wind speed slowed to 70 mph.

Life-threatening winds, flash flooding, rain and storm surge are ongoing through Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Helene is expected to slow and weaken as it travels north-northwest through Georgia toward the Tennessee-North Carolina border, the National Hurricane Center said.

Helene is projected to turn post-tropical on Friday afternoon or Friday night, the NHC said.

"However, the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians," the NHC said.

-ABC News' Max Golembo

_{Sep 27, 5:01 AM}

65 people rescued from flooding on Florida highway

Members of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and Pasco County Fire Rescue were working through the night and into the early morning responding to water rescue calls along the US-19 corridor on Florida’s Gulf coast.

As of 3:30 a.m. ET, the Pasco Sheriff's Office said a total of 65 people were rescued, with additional efforts ongoing.

Emergency services received more than 100 calls for assistance due to flooding, the Pasco Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook.

-ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway

_{Sep 27, 3:16 AM}

Helene’s center to pass east of Macon, Georgia

The center of Hurricane Helene is projected to pass east of Macon, Georgia, after 3 a.m. ET, according to the latest forecast.

Hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings remain in effect through the early morning hours of Friday.

The storm is expected to slow and weaken on Friday, turning northwestward to move through Georgia toward the Tennessee-North Carolina border, the National Hurricane Center said.

-ABC News’ Richard Von Ohlen

_{Sep 27, 2:22 AM}

Helene downgraded to Category 1

Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane in the early hours of Friday having moved around 100 miles inland into Florida and Georgia.

Its sustained winds dropped to 90 mph, with further weakening expected through to 5 a.m. ET.

Helene is maintaining speed at around 26 mph, heading north-northeast through central Georgia.

Macon, Atlanta, and Augusta are expected to experience damaging winds and torrential rain over the next two to three hours.

"Life-threatening storm surge, winds and heavy rains continue," the National Hurricane Center wrote on X.

-ABC News' Richard Von Ohlen

_{Sep 27, 1:33 AM}

People told to 'remain in place' as Category 2 Helene moves into southern Georgia

The National Hurricane Center has warned residents to "remain in place" as Hurricane Helene moves into southern Georgia as a Category 2 storm.

NHC advises people not to step outside when the calm of the eye is over them, as winds will increase after Helene passes.

Helene made landfall in Perry, Florida, as a Category 4, with 140 mph winds, but the speed of its maximum sustained winds has dropped to 110 mph.

The hurricane is moving across land at 26 mph.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 customers are without power in Georgia, according to poweroutage.us .

-ABC News' Richard Von Ohlen

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