Helene, currently a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to intensify rapidly and could reach major hurricane status – Category 3 – by Thursday morning.
Helene could be a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph when it makes landfall Thursday night in the Big Bend region of Florida. Helene could even be a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 mph when it makes landfall.
Hurricane Helene’s Predicted Track
ABC News
A hurricane warning is in effect just north of Tampa, covering Apalachicola, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida; and Valdosta, Georgia.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Jacksonville, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Miami and Charleston, South Carolina.
Latest tropical warnings for Hurricane Helene
ABC News
Flash floods inland are also a major concern.
Another storm is bringing heavy rain to Georgia and the Carolinas on Wednesday, so additional rain from Helene could cause historic flooding in the southern Appalachians Thursday night into Friday.
Hurricane Helene Flash Flood Warning through Saturday
ABC News
A tropical storm warning has been extended further north to include Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina, for Thursday night into Friday morning. Strong and damaging winds of up to 70 mph are possible in Atlanta on Friday.
-Max Golembo of ABC News
