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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hurricane Helene’s eyewall began moving ashore along the Florida Big Bend region just after 10 p.m. Thursday and the storm made “landfall” around 11 p.m. 10 miles west-southwest of Perry just east of the Aucilla River.
According to the National Hurricane Center, at 11 p.m. Hurricane Helene was an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and gusts up to 155 mph.
The storm was producing catastrophic storm surge and extremely high winds that will continue to spread onshore in the Big Bed region over the next few hours.
When in the eye, people are reminded to not venture out in the relative calm, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly when the eye passes.
Helene is expected to continue its current path, heading north-northeast at 24 mph.
A turn toward the north is expected overnight, taking the center over Georgia. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.
Weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, but the 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.
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Helene is a very large hurricane.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310 miles.
A sustained wind of 64 mph with a gust to 84 mph was recently reported at Cedar Key. A gust of 83 mph was recently reported at Steinhatchee.
The estimated minimum central pressure based on Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 938 mb.
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 20 inches.
The rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians.
Impacts for the greater Jacksonville area
A Tropical Storm Warning for all local counties means that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 36 hours.
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch for all Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia counties until 6 a.m. as Hurricane Helene continues to move inland and is forecast to bring low-level winds favorable for tornadoes.
A Flood Watch is also in effect beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday for all local counties through Friday morning. Flash flooding continues to be possible due to heavy downpours. Dangerous conditions continue along the Atlantic coast.
Models have backed off significantly on rain totals dropping to widespread 1-1.5 inches with up to 2 inches along Highway 301. Georgia could get the most with 3 to possibly 4 inches.
Wind gusts have exceeded 70 mph at our area beaches. All counties remain under a Tornado Watch until 6 a.m. Friday.
Columbia County is under a Hurricane Warning: Peak Wind Forecast is 40-50 mph with gusts to 75 mph. A Tornado Warning was issued after a confirmed spotter saw a funnel cloud at 11:04 p.m. Thursday.
By Friday models suggest a rapid decrease in the winds under 20 mph with only scattered showers as what is left of Hurricane Helene tracks into northern Georgia and Tennessee.
Will bridges close?
All bridges are currently open. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) works closely with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol to monitor wind conditions at area bridges. If sustained winds (not gusts) exceed 40 mph or more for one minute, FDOT will work with law enforcement to close affected bridges. Any bridge closures will be communicated via local media channels, social media, the City website (www.jacksonville.gov) and the JaxReady mobile app.
Preparation and safety
Be sure to keep your weather alert system on into Friday morning for the latest updates.
Residents are advised to be prepared for possible cleanup activities following the storm. Keep an eye on the latest forecasts and updates for any potential changes.
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