Power outages in Helene, landing in Florida, damage

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

After Tropical Storm Helene, the system, which was a devastating hurricane in northern Florida and Georgia, was still causing catastrophic damage hundreds of miles north in Tennessee.

However, things are still bad with “historic and catastrophic flooding” in parts of the southeastern and southern Appalachians.

Helene made landfall at 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. At sunrise, the damage left by wind and storm surge becomes visible.

It was the first known Category 4 storm to hit the Big Bend region of Florida since records began in 1851.

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Helene is moving north-northwest at 28 miles per hour.

Where did Hurricane Helene make landfall?

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Helene made landfall on the coast of Big Bend, Florida, at 11:10 p.m. Thursday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the eye of Helene struck in Taylor County east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry.

The storm struck the state in the Big Bend region, about 38 miles from Steinhatchee, where Hurricane Debby came ashore last month, and about 30 miles northwest of Keaton Beach, where Hurricane Idalia struck in August 2023.

Maximum sustained winds at landing were 140 miles per hour.

Perry is located on Florida’s Gulf Coast in the Big Bend region.

Florida’s “Big Bend” lies in the curve of the Florida peninsula around the Gulf of Mexico. The area includes Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie and Levy counties and is largely comprised of “untamed coastal landscape,” according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Perry is about 50 miles from Tallahassee, Florida’s capital.

Post-tropical Cyclone Helene: What you need to know

Location: 50 miles south-southeast of Louisville, Kentucky
Maximum continuous winds: 35 miles per hour
Movement: North-northwest at 17 miles per hour
Pressure: 984MB
Next note: 11 p.m

Watches and warnings throughout the US and Florida

All tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings have been discontinued.

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Precipitation expected from Helene

Power outages for Helene

As of 2 p.m., 883,689 customers in Florida were without power, up from 1.25 million at 5 a.m

Helene: Where is it now and where is it going?

At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of tropical depression Helene was located near latitude 37.5 north and longitude 85.5 west.

Helene is moving in a north-northwest direction at around 27 km/h.

➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Depression Helene

The forward velocity is expected to slow and the low pressure system is forecast to stall in the Tennessee Valley this evening and throughout the weekend.

Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Tropical Storm Helene

Historic, catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, including numerous major landslides, will continue into portions of the southern Appalachians through this evening. There will be widespread, significant river flooding, some of which will reach record-breaking levels.
Damaging wind gusts will continue today over portions of Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky, particularly over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.
There is a possibility of extended power outages in parts of the southeastern United States. If you use a generator after the storm, be sure to place it outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows and garages to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

Further impacts from Tropical Storm Helene are expected

Amount of precipitation: Helene is expected to produce an additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall across portions of the central and southern Appalachians, resulting in widespread rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated rainfall totals exceeding 20 inches. These rains will result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash floods and urban flooding, as well as record river flooding in many cases. Numerous significant landslides are expected in the steep terrain of the southern Appalachians. Otherwise, 1 to 3 inches of precipitation is expected in parts of the Ohio Valley through Sunday evening.

➤ Forecasting excessive rainfall

surfing: The swell caused by Helene will impact the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas over the next day or so. These waves can create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Tornadoes: Tornadoes are possible today in eastern South Carolina, central and eastern North Carolina, and southern Virginia.

New “cone of worry” for Helene had far-reaching effects

Use the slider to compare the old cone of concern with the experimental version now released by the National Hurricane Center.

The National Hurricane Center first launched its new “Cone of Concern” for Hurricane Ernesto on August 14th.

Ernesto stayed away from Florida and the US, so residents didn’t see much difference between the original and new cones. One of the biggest differences between the two is that the new cone indicates wind warnings issued for inland counties, not just coastal counties.

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