Severe Weather Possible Across Parts of Florida, Georgia, Tennesse, and South Carolina

Tropical Energy Coming Ashore Thursday Will Push Heavy Rain & Wind Inland Into the Southeast

09/23/24 6:31pm ET

Gulf of Mexico Satellite 09/23/24 6:21pm ETPhoto byNWS

Good evening everyone. For the past few days we've been focusing on the heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout the Midwest and Central States, while awaiting to see what the tropics will do.

This is the time of year where we begin to watch Central America and the western Caribbean for old waves of low pressure that get hung up, then brought north by frontal or trough activity. The time has come where we need to watch activity south of Cuba, which is expected to strengthen and head into the Gulf of Mexico.

For this reason, the National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the entire Florida Keys, as well as Hurricane Warning for all of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. At this point, development and a direct impact on Florida is a certainty; however, where future Hurricane Helene makes landfall is uncertain.

Areas from the west coast of Florida to the Panhandle, need to watch this closely and begin preparing for a direct or indirect impact. Landfall is expected some time between late Thursday morning and late Thursday afternoon.

We are expecting Helene to make landfall as a major Hurricane, possibly equal to or greater than a category 3. It is important not to focus on only the landfall, because there will also be a severe weather and flooding component to this. As with any landfalling tropical storm or hurricane, we could see widespread brief tornadoes, as well as hail and damaging wind.

Areas that could see this tornadic activity, include Florida in its entirety, most of Georgia, central and eastern Tennesse, and parts of South Carolina & North Carolina. We could also see severe weather impact other parts of the region as Helene moves further inland, then eventually dissipating.

For areas of Tennessee and northern Georgia, rain is badly needed. However, dry soil and too much rain, could cause major flooding issues in low lying, poor drainage areas, and areas near rivers and streams. We are expecting the steadier heavy rain and wind to arrive across inland areas later Thursday, onward.

National Weather Service - Hazardous Weather Outlook - Peachtree City, GA