HOLT, Fla., Sept. 25, 2024—Helene has intensified into a category 1 hurricane with 80 mph sustained winds.

Landfall is forecast along the Big Bend area tomorrow evening as a category 3 or higher hurricane.

Hurricane Helene promises to be one of the largest hurricanes in history bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeastern United States.

Due to Helene’s size, storm surge, wind and rainfall impacts will likely extend well away from the center and outside the forecast cone, particularly on the east side. 

There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida peninsula and the Big Bend area where the highest inundation of greater than 10 ft is expected along the Big Bend coast.

The entire state of Florida will feel effects from the storm, including areas of the northwest Florida panhandle where 2-4 inches of rain and gusty winds are possible tomorrow.

Penetrating inland effects from Helene

Hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches extend into Georgia and parts of the western Carolinas.

Devastating hurricane-force winds are expected across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia where the core of Helene moves inland.

Because of Helene’s expected fast forward speed, damaging and life-threatening wind gusts are expected to penetrate well inland over portions of the southeastern United States, including in the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

Helene will bring heavy rainfall into the quad-state region of Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, dumping an unprecedented 10-15 inches of rain in some areas. This includes the risk of landslides across the southern Appalachians.

Staff and National Hurricane Center forecast