Helene is now a hurricane. Much of Georgia under watch, warning for floods & damaging wind

Weather officials upgraded Tropical Storm Helene to a Hurricane Wednesday morning, and there are hurricane watches, tropical storm watches and flood watches in effect across nearly all of Georgia until Friday afternoon.

Moments after the storm was upgraded, tropical storm warnings were pushed farther north. A band of central Georgia, spanning from Columbus, through Macon and over to Statesboro, was placed under tropical storm warning. This means tropical storm-force winds are expected within the next 36 hours.

Most of the state can expect damaging winds and rainfall that could cause flooding starting Thursday night. Making matters worse, a forecast calling for heavy rain and flash flooding unrelated to Hurricane Helene is expected in most of west, central and north Georgia by Wednesday night.

The center of the storm is expected to whirl through west Georgia, with “impacts expected to extend well east of the center,” the NWS said .

Wind threats have increased since previous assessments, according to the NWS.

“A tornado cannot be ruled out,” the NWS said for central and north Georgia.

Hurricane warnings and watches were in effect along Georgia’s southwestern border. These areas should prepare for “life-threatening winds of Category 1 or 2 hurricane force,” the NWS said. Speeds could reach 74 to 110 mph.

Areas under hurricane warnings “may be uninhabitable for weeks,” the NWS said.

Potential impacts from Helene include roof damage, mobile home damage, airborne projectiles, and uprooted fences and trees, according to the NWS. Evacuations and rescues are likely in areas with extensive impacts.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency advised people to have emergency plans and be aware of risks.