Hurricane Helene to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. Southeast

Hurricane Helene is located about 135 km north-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h.

The storm is expected to strengthen and is expected to become a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening.

After the storm hits land it will weaken, but Helene's 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.

Storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. Swells generated by Helene will affect the southern coast of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during the next couple of days. Swells will spread northward toward the west coast of Florida and the northeastern Gulf Coast later today and Thursday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Hurricane conditions are expected within the U.S. hurricane warning area late Thursday, with tropical storm conditions beginning Thursday morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected in southern Florida later today and will spread northward across the rest of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina through Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area in South Carolina beginning on Thursday.

Over the next several hours hurricane seasons are expected in the hurricane warning area in Mexico. Tropical storm conditions are occurring in the warning area in Cuba, and hurricane conditions are possible for the western portion of Cuba today.

Flooding rains is expected to deliver up to 15 inches of rain. Over western Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and the Yucatan Peninsula, rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches possible. Across the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches with isolated totals around 15 inches are expected. Flooding and landslides are possible.

Tonight, there is a risk of tornadoes over parts of the Florida Peninsula and southern Alabama. The risk of tornadoes will increase on Thursday, expanding northward across Florida into parts of Georgia and South Carolina.