ATLANTA — Here’s what you need to know:
- Helene is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend
- All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia are under a Tropical Storm Warning
- Hurricane Helene is forecast to make landfall as a major storm on Florida’s Big Bend late Thursday. It will then move across Georgia and into metro Atlanta late Thursday night and into Friday morning.
- The storm will slowly weaken as it heads north into Georgia
- Hurricane conditions are expected all the way up into middle Georgia
- Strong, top-end tropical storm conditions expected across metro Atlanta and North Georgia
- Sustained winds of 40-60 mph, gusts 60-75+ mph
- Possible extensive wind and tree damage expected
- Tornadoes are also possible
- Rivers expected to reach flood-stage
- Gov. Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday in anticipation of Tropical Storm Helene. President Joe Biden approved a “major disaster declaration” for FEMA to assist Georgia.
- The Georgia Emergency Management Association is encouraging everyone to have a plan and stay up to date through official weather updates.
- All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia is under a Flood Watch until Friday afternoon.
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Severe Weather Team 2 is monitoring Hurricane Storm Helene around the clock and making sure you have the latest information to keep you and your family safe.
Tropical Storm Helene officially strengthened into Hurricane Helene as it passed through the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.
Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says Helene is expected to make landfall along Florida’s Big Bend late Thursday. But Nitz says the storm is moving fast and will make its way across Georgia and into metro Atlanta and north Georgia late Thursday night and into Friday morning.
A Tropical Storm Watch was issued Wednesday morning. It has now been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning.
With it, Helene is expected to bring heavy rains, tropical storm-force winds, and the potential for brief spin-up tornadoes.
But that’s not the first severe weather metro Atlanta will see this week. Monahan is forecasting heavy rains unrelated to Helene on Wednesday.
Because of those rains and the heavy rains Helene is expected to bring in, there is a strong concern for flooding along rivers, creeks and other areas prone to flooding. The National Weather Service has placed most of the state of Georgia under a Flood Watch until Friday afternoon.
Monahan says the flash flooding threat is increasing on Wednesday with a high risk over the northeast Georgia mountains. Widespread rainfall totals anywhere from two inches to more than four inches are possible.
By Friday, metro Atlanta and north Georgia could see between five and nine inches of rain, according to Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monohan.
On Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Upson County in the southern part of the metro Atlanta area.
Is Helene a hurricane?
During its 11:00 a.m. update on Wednesday, the National Weather Service confirmed that Tropical Storm Helene has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane.
It is expected to continue moving over the deep, warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. As it moves across those waters, it is expected to keep strengthening.
It is expected to be a major Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall at Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday.
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When will Helene move into Georgia?
Nitz says Helene is moving quickly. So once it makes landfall late Thursday in Florida, it is expected to quickly make its way into Georgia and into north Georgia by late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
As it moves in, Georgians can expect to see heavy rains and strong winds. Nitz said to expect sustained winds of 40-60 mph, and gusts of 60-75+ mph.
Along the track and to the east of Helene’s center, there will be a risk of a brief, spin-up tornado. So depending on the exact path Helene follows, parts of metro Atlanta could see a tornado risk.
Has the government responded?
On Tuesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency through Oct. 2. What does a state of emergency do? The order essentially frees up emergency funds for areas that could be impacted and mobilizes agencies to help with preparation, response and recovery before and after a storm.
The order also allows up to 500 Georgia National Guard troops to help with storm preparation and response.
President Joe Biden, also on Tuesday, approved a “major disaster declaration” for FEMA to assist the state.
Channel 2′s Tom Regan spoke with Georgia Emergency Management Agency officials who say they are already preparing for the storm and warning Georgians to stay alert and have a plan before the storm’s effects move into the area.
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