Helene Downgraded to Tropical Storm Over Georgia

What was once Category 4 Hurricane Helene is now a tropical storm this morning.

As of the 8 o'clock NHC advisory , Helene still has maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hours as it rolls across Georgia dumping flooding rain.

The tropical storm and storm surge warnings for the Florida Gulf Coast have been discontinued.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for parts of northern Florida and a storm surge warning is in effect for Florida's Big Bend region, where Helene first came ashore.

The storm should continue to weaken as it moves further inland, though damaging winds are still expected in parts of the southeastern U.S. and into the southern Appalachians.

Tornadoes are also possible this morning in eastern Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Virginia.