Hurricane Helene is expected to bring devastating hurricane-force winds to northern Florida and southern Georgia Thursday, according to NOAA and the National Hurricane Center.
Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane shortly before making landfall along the Big Bend area in Florida on Thursday evening.
Forecasters say the storm is also expected to bring severe weather to Athens, with a flood watch in effect through Friday afternoon. Additionally, a tropical storm watch has been issued for Clarke and surrounding counties.
Significant impacts are expected across the north and central Georgia Thursday and Friday with lingering flooding impacts over the weekend.
Initial areas of heavy rainfall are expected across mainly north Georgia through tonight which could lead to localized flash flooding. Widespread torrential rainfall is expected to then overspread the area on Thursday into Thursday night as Tropical Storm Helene approaches. Storm total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts is expected through Friday.
Rainfall amounts of 4 to 10 inches, with localized amounts over 12 inches, are expected. The highest amounts are expected over a wide swatch along I-85 into northeast Georgia from Columbus to Atlanta to Gainesville and the northeast Georgia mountains. Widespread flooding is expected with significant flash flooding and moderate to major river flooding possible.
Hurricane and tropical storm force wind gusts, potentially exceeding 70 mph, are expected to begin across the southern portion of the forecast area on Thursday evening, then spread north overnight into Friday morning and continuing into the afternoon. Given the saturated soils, widespread downing of trees and significant power outages are expected.
The National Weather Service warns residents to prepare for an extended period of power loss.
Agricultural Climatologist Pam Knox is the Director of the University of Georgia Weather Network. She describes what Athens area resident can expect.
“For us, the winds are going to really pick up on Thursday afternoon,” according to Knox. “It’s going to be bad overnight; it’s going to be raining like crazy. The winds are going to be strong; we’re going to have the potential for wind gusts that could be as much as 50 miles an hour and with that much rain, and that strong of a wind the chance of power outages is really high.”
The Atlantic Hurricane season runs until November 30.
