Tropical Storm Helene continues bringing heavy rain, winds to Southeast

Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Helene weakened to a tropical storm as it moved over Georgia on Friday morning as forecasters warned the system could bring life-threatening damage throughout the Southeast.

In its 8 a.m. EDT update, the National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Helene was located 35 miles south-southwest of Clemson, S.C., and 80 miles east-northeast of Atlanta, packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and moving north at 30 mph.

The hurricane made landfall just after 11 p.m. EDT Thursday when the center of the eye reached the shore.

"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," the NHC said. "Persons should not leave their shelters and remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions."

"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.

Such a powerful storm will 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.

"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," the forecasters said in a Thursday evening update.

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 tropical storm warning was in effect for Altamaha Sound north to Little River Inlet while a storm surge warning was in effect for Indian Pass to the Middle of Longboat Key, Fla. and 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."

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 Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 61 of Florida's 67 counties ahead of the storm's landfall.

"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 gradually increased 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.