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Cat. 4 Helene eyewall makes landfall, battering Florida coast
By UPI Staff,
1 days ago
Sept. 26 (UPI) -- The eyewall of Helene, a "catastrophic" Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in the Big Bend area of the Florida coast Thursday night, according to forecasters warning the Big Bend area of life-threatening winds and a deadly storm surge.
The NHC said in an update that the eyewall, the leading edge of the storm, came ashore at about 10 p.m. while packing 140 mph winds.
"Helene is producing catastrophic winds that will be spreading onshore in the Florida Big Bend region during the next few hours," the NHC said in the update. "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions."
The hurricane itself technically makes landfall when center of the eye reaches the shore, which is forecast to happen about 11 p.m. EDT, the NHC said.
"When the eye comes ashore, people are reminded to not venture out in the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes," the NHC cautioned.
The forecasters located Helene at 10 p.m. about 65 miles west-northwest of Cedar Key, Fla., and 65 miles south of Tallahassee, Fla.
It was blitzing north-northeast toward Florida at 24 mph.
Such a powerful storm will likely bring widespread destruction and could result in the loss of life, weather officials said.
Forecasters warned that a potentially deadly storm surge will occur along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level. They also warned of destruction from waves, too.
Damaging wind gusts will penetrate well inland over portions of Georgia and the Carolinas, they said while warning residents in these regions that they could experience extended power outages.
Additionally, they said, "considerable to locally catastrophic flash and urban flooding is likely for northwestern and northern Florida and the southeast through Friday."
Forecasters also said widespread river flooding is anticipated in a large area affected by the fast-moving storm.
"Helene will likely be an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane at landfall," the forecasters said in a Thursday evening update. "Weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, but the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians."
Forecasters also said hurricane-force winds extended outward as far as 60 miles from the center of the storm, while tropical-storm-force winds could be felt as far as 310 miles away. Rain totals could reach 6 inches as far north as Louisville, Ky., the NHC predicted.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Anclote River to Mexico Beach, and a hurricane watch was in effect for Entelwood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas; Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay; west of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line; and Lake Okeechobee.
Storm surge warnings are in effect for Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
The storm surge warning means life-threatening danger from rising water inundation as Helene pushes water inland from the Florida coast.
"This is a life-threatening situation," the NHC said. " Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials."
Helene is expected to weaken after landfall Thursday night, but the NHC said the storm's speed and intensity "will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians."
The NHC said Helen is a very large hurricane. The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of landfall location and that surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.
The NHC said surge-related flooding will depend on "the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
"Florida is preparing for widespread impacts from Hurricane Helene," he said.
Normally dry areas near the coast are expected to flood due to the combination of tides and the deadly storm surge, which from Carrabelle to the Suwannee River could reach as high as 20 feet.
The storm will bring heavy rainfall amounts to the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday with strong, damaging winds -- especially in gusts -- that will penetrate well inland over the southeastern United States, including over higher terrain in the southern Appalachian mountains.
Total rain accumulations into the Appalachian's are expected to be 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches.
The NHC said the risk of several tornadoes will gradually increase through Thursday night, with greatest threat expected in parts of northern Florida into southeast Georgia, the Midlands and Low Country of South Carolina and southern North Carolina.
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