MJP –
Wind, rain, and flooding are on the horizon for Northeast Florida as Hurricane Helene intensifies into a Category 3 storm and makes its way toward the Florida Big Bend.
Helene strengthened into a major hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, according to a 3 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The storm has gained momentum and is now moving at 20 mph as it makes a small U-turn toward the northeast. About 160 kilometers to the west-southwest of Tampa is where it is located.
As the hurricane’s strength is anticipated to grow, the speed is anticipated to steadily climb as well.
According to the most recent data and pictures collected by hurricane trackers and satellites, Helene’s eyewall has grown and sealed off. Typically, this indicates that things are becoming worse. A enormous storm, Helene already has a diameter of more than 400 miles.
According to the Hurricane Center, Hurricane Helene is among the strongest storms that have formed in the last twenty years or more. Extreme weather, including a storm surge, rain, and gusts, will spread outward from the prediction cone, especially to the east, towards Jacksonville.
Outwards of Helene’s core, tropical storm winds can reach 345 miles, while hurricane winds can reach 60 miles.
Tropical storm winds, with a range of 39 to 57 mph, are likely to hit Jacksonville, according to the Hurricane Center. The likelihood of this happening is 73%. Storm winds will likely weaken as it approaches Georgia, but mudslides in the southern Appalachians and powerful gusts as far north as Georgia and the Carolinas are still possible.
Authorities in Jacksonville have issued a warning that trees may fall due to the recent rainfall that has saturated the ground, making them vulnerable to strong winds. All of Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida are under a tornado watch until Thursday at least 10 p.m.
Hurricane Alerts in Effect as Tropical Storm Helene Gains Strength Near Florida and Mexico
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville’s Angie Enyedi said in a Thursday briefing that the windiest part of the day will be between 5 p.m. and midnight.
At the Duval County Emergency Operations Center on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, meteorologist Angie Enyedi of the National Weather Service gives an update regarding Hurricane Helene. | Greetings from Jacksonville, Will Brown!
On the west side, we may get persistent winds of 30–40 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph. However, our open areas, such as the riverside and the coast, will be the primary targets of the larger magnitudes.
Jacksonville may suffer flooding and wind damage, according to Mayor Donna Deegan’s warning.
As the sun goes down and the water comes up, the storm surge might be three feet high. On Friday morning, at high tide, the situation will be quite similar to what it was along the St. Johns River north of the Buckman Bridge, which extends into Downtown, San Marco, and Riverside.
On Thursday night, Deegan urged everyone to stay indoors for their own safety.
At about 2:30 on Thursday, officials from Clay County said they could begin to feel the affects. Tim Devin, director of emergency management, warned that tornadoes, high winds, and moderate flooding are possible overnight, so people should stay alert.
Tropical storm-force winds are expected to hit the western part of our county, according to Devin. This means that locations such as Keystone Heights, Camp Blanding, and Clay Hill can anticipate persistent winds of 58 to 73 mph, with gusts reaching 80 mph. This might have significant or minor consequences.
You can anticipate blackouts and fallen wires. The website alert.claycountygov.com is where individuals may report downed wires.
The highest reaches of tropical storm and hurricane wind speeds and gusts are still affecting the Florida West Coast. In the coming hours, North Florida should expect a rapid increase in wind speed, which will only get stronger during the afternoon and evening.
North Florida and the Florida peninsula should brace themselves for widespread power outages. As the storm advances northward, Helene’s wind field will keep growing.
Up to 20 feet of storm surge is still possible across the Big Bend and parts of the Apalachicola area. Up to 8 feet of storm surge is also possible across the west portion of Central Florida.
Large waves are already slamming against the West Coast of Florida, and waters will continue to rise as the storm moves northward.
Much of the Panhandle should expect heavy rain. As Helene draws nearer, flash flooding is becoming more likely.
Power outages are increasing across the state. Currently, over 100,000 customers are without power, most in Southwest Florida. As Helene arrives and moves through, power outages will be widespread across the Panhandle.
Heavy rains will continue to move up the state. Some of these heavy rains have had thunderstorms embedded in them, and the National Weather Service issued several tornado warnings across South Florida and Central Florida on Thursday morning.
