No talk of rain for Opening Day of the State Fair of Texas

NORTH TEXAS — The Big Bend of Florida was hit by a Category 3 Hurricane last year. Idalia was the strongest tropical storm to hit that area since 1950. Idalia was packing 115mph winds as it made landfall 30 miles south of Perry, Florida on August 30, 2023. It produced the storm surge of record at Cedar Key, around 7 feet.

Hurricane Helene will arrive Thursday night very close to the same spot. It will be packing 130 mph winds or higher. It is a bigger storm with a bigger storm surge. The wall of water coming on shore is forecast to be near 20ft on the eastern eyewall. The storm surge expected Thursday night is described as "not survivable."

Most of the area around Apalachee Bay is undeveloped state-protected land. There are a few exceptions. Horseshoe Beach is a pre-planned development that juts out into the Bay. It is perched on the dangerous side of Helene's expected path, on the "dirty" east side where winds and the surge are the highest.

Almost all of Florida has Tropical Force winds Thursday night.

The strongest winds are around the eyewall.

Notice Cross City is forecasted to have winds at 109 mph around 10 p.m. Horseshoe Beach is 23 miles to the southwest, on the water's edge. The storm surge is expected to be close to 20 feet in some areas in the Bay.

Extensive flooding is expected well inland, all the way up into North Carolina and Tennessee.

The south's largest city, Atlanta, could experience tropical winds over 60 mph. Power outages are expected from landfall to several hundred miles north into the mountains of Georgia and South Carolina.

Meanwhile, in North Texas, it's nothing but sunshine and fine fall weather for the start of the State Fair of Texas this weekend.

The start of the Fair is going to be warm and dry, at least for the first 10 days. No talk of rain.