TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Fast-moving Hurricane Helene barreled across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Thursday, threatening “insurmountable” storm surge in northwestern parts of the state as well as devastating winds, rainfall and flooding hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S., meteorologists said.
Helene is expected to be a major hurricane — that is, a Category 3 or higher — when it makes landfall on Florida’s northwest coast Thursday night. As of Thursday morning, hurricane watches and flash flood warnings extended well offshore, as far as south-central Georgia. The governors of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas have all declared states of emergency in their states.
The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee predicted storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and warned that they could be particularly “catastrophic and unsurvivable” in Florida’s Apalachee Bay. It added that high winds and heavy rain also posed risks.
“If this forecast comes to pass, it will be a nightmare scenario for Apalachee Bay,” the office said. “Please, please, please take all evacuation orders seriously!”
In Crawfordville, farther inland and about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Apalachee Bay, Christine Nazworth stocked up on bottled water, baked goods and prepared meals at a Walmart. She said her family would stay put, despite Wakulla County issuing a mandatory evacuation order.
“I’m praying,” she said. “Lord, have mercy on us. And everyone who comes our way.”
Wakulla County was among several that issued evacuation orders. Along Florida’s Gulf Coast, school districts and several universities canceled classes.
On Thursday morning, Helene was about 350 miles (560 kilometers) southwest of Tampa and moving north-northeast at 12 mph (19 km/h) with sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). Forecasters said it would become a Category 3 hurricane or higher, meaning it would have sustained winds of over 110 mph (177 km/h).
Although Helene is likely to weaken as it moves inland, its “rapid forward speed will cause strong, damaging winds, particularly in gusts, to penetrate far inland across the southeastern United States,” including the southern Appalachians, the National Hurricane Center said. The center issued smaller tropical storm warnings as far north as North Carolina, warning that much of the region could experience prolonged power outages, downed trees and dangerous flooding.
Helene flooded parts of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula on Wednesday, flooding streets and toppling trees as the hurricane passed offshore near the resort city of Cancun.
The storm formed Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea. In Cuba, authorities preemptively cut power to some communities after waves as high as 16 feet (5 meters) battered Cortes Bay. And in the Cayman Islands, schools closed and residents pumped water from flooded homes.
Rain was already falling steadily in Atlanta on Wednesday night as shoppers cleared the shelves of a Kroger supermarket east of downtown. The Atlanta weather service issued flash flood warnings for much of the state.
Charles McComb said he still had a hard time believing Helene would have a serious impact on the city, which is more than 250 miles (400 kilometers) north of the Gulf of Mexico. “It would be really unique if it hit that far inland,” Charles said as he bought water, bread and cold cuts.
However, he was concerned about the power outage.
“I live in an area where power outages aren’t that common,” he said.
Helene is expected to be one of the largest storms to hit the region in years, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. He said that since 1988, only three Gulf hurricanes have been larger than Helene’s predicted size: Irma in 2017, Wilma in 2005 and Opal in 1995.
Areas 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of the Georgia-Florida border can expect hurricane conditions. More than half of Georgia’s public school districts and several universities have canceled classes.
Helene could be the strongest earthquake to hit Atlanta in a major southern U.S. city in 35 years, according to Marshall Shepherd, a professor of meteorology at the University of Georgia.
Landslides were possible in the southern Appalachians, and rain was even expected in areas of Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana.
Federal authorities have deployed generators, food and water, along with search and rescue teams and power restoration crews.
Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that this year’s Atlantic hurricane season will be above average due to record-high ocean temperatures.
In further storm activity, Tropical Storm Isaac formed Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean and was expected to strengthen as it moved eastward across the open ocean, possibly becoming a hurricane by the end of the week, meteorologists said. Isaac was located about 690 miles (1,115 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda with sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), according to the hurricane center, which said swells and winds could affect parts of Bermuda and eventually the Azores by the weekend.
In the Pacific Ocean, former Hurricane John reformed into a tropical storm on Wednesday and strengthened as it threatened areas of Mexico’s west coast. Officials issued hurricane warnings for southwestern Mexico.
John hit the country’s southern Pacific coast late Monday night, killing at least two people, causing mudslides and damaging homes and trees. The hurricane intensified to a Category 3 within hours and made landfall east of Acapulco. It emerged from the ocean after weakening inland.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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