How will Hurricane Helene affect Miami and Broward? Region is under weather alerts

Although Miami-Dade and Broward counties will be spared the worst of Hurricane Helene, which continues to make its way toward Florida’s Big Bend with more than 100-mph winds, the National Weather Service cautions that South Florida will still feel an impact.

All of South Florida has been under a tropical storm warning since Wednesday and that continues into Thursday, as tropical storm wind gusts and heavy sporadic rain are expected through the day. Flood and tornado watches are also in the mix.

Broward County Public Schools has canceled Thursday classes while Miami Dade Public Schools decided to remain open.

“The area is not going to see the strongest impacts from the storm,” said weather service meterologist Will Redman .“Along the outer bands of the storm, we’re going to have some stronger wind gusts, which have already been happening overnight and early this morning.”

What are wind gusts?

Wind gusts are brief, sudden increases in wind speed typically lasting a few seconds. Gusts are stronger than the average wind speed and can happen during storms and high pressure systems.

The strongest wind gust felt so far was 64 mph at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to the weather service. Right behind it is Naples with 56 mph wind and Pembroke Pines with 55 mph. In Miami, Morningside Park saw a wind gust of 49 mph.

In a post to X, the city of Fort Lauderdale said it’s expecting 3 to 5 inches of rain that could be made worse by King Tides.

While their beaches are still open, Ocean Rescue crews have red flags up to let beachgoers know the dangers of current conditions. The city says it will close beaches if necessary for public safety.

The weather service warns that similar conditions are possible through the day as Helene’s bands sweep through.

In the Florida Keys, the National Weather Service has reported a 61 mph wind gust in Cudjoe Key from Helene’s broad feeder bands.