@NWSTallahassee @rzweather @spann @TylerSmith_wx Dead calm here in the eye. Doctor's Memorial in Perry. Frogs are out. One of the creepiest feelings ever. #flwx #Helene pic.twitter.com/t8J4AXBI8Q
— Benjamin Mashburn (Lower AL WX) (@AlFlor1) September 27, 2024
HURRICANE HELENE MAKES LANDFALL; EXTREME WIND WARNING FOR PARTS OF FLORIDA AND GEORGIA… The center of Hurricane Helene has officially made landfall on this Thursday evening in Taylor County, Florida. Maximum sustained winds increased to near 140 mph over the last hour, meaning Helene was strengthening right up to the point of landfall. Minimum central pressure was down to 938 millibars. Extensive and extreme impacts continue in parts of Florida and now southern Georgia on this Thursday evening. The rarest of the rare – an Extreme Wind Warning is in effect for several Florida counties as 115+ mph winds begin to move inland. Helene is RAPIDLY moving north-northeast at about 25 mph. This means the storm will clear out of the Big Bend region and southern Georgia by daybreak, most likely. Details about the tropical disturbance that may develop in the Caribbean Sea are below in the fourth paragraph.
LOCAL IMPACTS DISCUSSION – SOUTH ALABAMA & N.W. FLORIDA… Breezy conditions are expected overnight at times. A few showers may be possible. High waves and rip currents are happening at local beaches with minor coastal flooding at some of the local bays, specifically Choctawhatchee Bay. Beyond that, we’re in pretty good shape, comparatively, in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with our friends in Florida and Georgia!
EXTREME WIND WARNING…It is the rarest official warning product issued by the National Weather Service – the Extreme Wind Warning. This product is only used when major hurricanes make landfall in parts of the United States. This is one of only a handful that have been issued since the inception of the product less than 15 years ago. An Extreme Wind Warning is in effect for parts of Lafayette, Wakulla, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson, Suwannee, Hamilton, and Leon counties in Florida. An Extreme Wind Warning will likely be needed soon for areas near Valdosta (GA) and Thomasville (GA) as well. Check on your folks if you know anyone in any of these areas as this is just about as urgent and dangerous of a situation as you’ll see in the world of weather.
DO NOT TRAVEL TOWARD TALLAHASSEE OR GEORGIA OVERNIGHT… If you have plans to drive eastbound on Interstate 10 toward Tallahassee or perhaps over into southern Georgia tonight from Alabama, simply DO NOT. Conditions are extremely dangerous due to landfalling Hurricane Helene. The threat of hazardous travel will continue into central and perhaps even parts of northern Georgia into tomorrow morning. The entirety of the state of Georgia continues to be under a Tropical Storm Warning with a large chunk of the southern and central part of the state under a Hurricane Warning. Those are not typos – A Tropical Storm Warning exists all the way northward to the Georgia-Tennessee state line. Inland impacts from this hurricane will be farther inland than most hurricanes in the modern era. I am very concerned about Atlanta as the core of this soon-to-be decaying hurricane will move very near there early tomorrow morning. Air travel will be impacted nationwide as the Atlanta Airport very well may have to shut down for a time.
DISTURBANCE MAY DEVELOP IN CARIBBEAN BUT *AMPLE* UNCERTAINTY FOR NOW… I have been inundated with questions throughout the day from people panicking about the potential for “another hurricane behind Helene.” To be clear: There is no hurricane “behind Helene.” The National Hurricane Center mentions in their daily Tropical Weather Outlook that a tropical disturbance MAY develop next week in the Caribbean Sea, as in there is a small chance of a tropical depression or tropical storm developing. There is also a chance the system never develops – at all. There is no evidence of any hurricane moving our way over the next week. That is not to say a hurricane won’t develop in a week or two. It IS hurricane season, after all, but to be clear, we simply have no evidence of that whatsoever right now. Long-time viewers and readers know this, but maybe you’re new here. The message I consistently preach: Don’t trust anyone who wouldn’t attach their real name and make a true career out of meteorology. My livelihood is attached to me delivering accurate, reliable, and timely warnings to you as best I can every, single day. The fear and hype pushers on Facebook want to bait your emotions into sharing their garbage.
No, there is no second hurricane. A disturbance in the Caribbean next week, MAYBE. Beyond that, fear and hype. I’ll keep you posted every step of the way in the RedZone Weather app.
APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have your next full forecast video posted by 7:15AM tomorrow morning. Have a nice Thursday evening and please stay safe!
Hurricane Helene has made landfall in Taylor County, Florida as a category 4 hurricane with maximum winds near 140 mph. Major hurricane force winds possible in parts of Florida and southern Georgia over the next few hours. Detailed update: https://t.co/JO3rza2dxo pic.twitter.com/FwmekvUblY
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) September 27, 2024
Western Taylor County in Florida will see landfall of Category 4 Hurricane Helene before midnight.
Helene will cross Interstate 10 and be in Georgia by 2 AM and zoom up I-75 leaving a path of destruction into Macon. pic.twitter.com/dfGXDOVm6O
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) September 27, 2024
