Unsurvivable storm surge and catastrophic winds from Hurricane Helene to hit Florida

Hurricane Helene has maximum sustained winds of 100 mph with higher gusts. The storm will continue to strengthen and is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast this evening. The storm will weaken after it makes landfall, but due to the size of the storm, strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, will occur well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

Hurricane conditions are expected late today in areas under a hurricane warning. Tropical storm conditions have already begun in the Florida Keys and portions of south Florida, and these conditions are expected to spread northward across the state and into Georgia and South Carolina through tonight.

Hurricane Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over western Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the northeast Yucatan Peninsula, with isolated totals of around 12 inches.

Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with isolated totals around 18 inches.

This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians.

Today and tonight tornadoes are possible from parts of northern Florida into southeast Georgia, the Midlands and Low Country of South Carolina, and southern North Carolina.

Normally dry areas near the coast will be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.

The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

• Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL 15-20 ft

• Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL 10-15 ft

• Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL 10-15 ft

• Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL 8-12 ft

• Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL 6-10 ft

• Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL 5-8 ft

• Tampa Bay 5-8 ft

• Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL 4-7 ft

• East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL 3-5 ft

• Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL 3-5 ft

• Charlotte Harbor3-5 ft

Swells generated by Helene will affect much of Florida and the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Residents in need of information can call: 1-800-342-3557 for resources before and after Helene.