An unusually large storm is moving toward the Florida coast, gaining strength as it moves along the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall Thursday night.
Hurricane Helene was upgraded to a Category 2 storm Thursday morning, just hours after Hurricane Helene was expected to impact Florida’s northwest coast as a Category 3 storm or higher. The storm’s impact could extend far beyond the coast, with flash flood warnings extending to south-central Georgia, according to the Associated Press.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service issued a warning on Wednesday, urging people to prepare for “catastrophic, life-threatening inland flooding from Helen.” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, urban areas around Tallahassee, metro Atlanta and western North Carolina, including Asheville, are at significant risk for flooding. The agency warned that Helen was the strongest storm to hit Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, in decades. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for parts of Florida.
Prior to landfall, Helen is expected to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the southeastern United States, which will increase existing flooding risks. Extreme rainfall in the southern Appalachian mountains could trigger flash floods, landslides and widespread flooding of rivers and streams, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Helen’s maximum sustained winds were 120 miles per hour (195 kilometers per hour), according to the National Hurricane Center. Gusty winds increase the risk of downed trees, which could cause power outages, blocked roads and property damage.
Airports in Tampa, Tallahassee and Clearwater, as well as Disney World and Universal theme parks in Florida, were closed Thursday in response to the storm. According to NBC News, residents in Tallahassee have evacuated their homes and stocked up on supplies to prepare for the coming storm. Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College canceled classes for the remainder of the week.
Hurricane season begins on June 1 and lasts until November 30. Helen is the eighth storm to date to affect Atlantic coastal waters and the Gulf of Mexico. The storm gets its name when wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour (62.75 kilometers per hour).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the number of storms this hurricane season is above average due to near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, reduced trade winds and wind shear, and La Niña conditions in the Pacific. This change is primarily driven by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, which contributes to climate change, global ocean warming, and ice melt, causing sea levels to rise.
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