Hurricane Helene made landfall across Florida’s Gulf Coast overnight packing winds of up to 140 mph.
Helene was described as an “extremely dangerous” category four hurricane by the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC).
It struck the Big Bend region of Florida after intensifying while crossing the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to bring strong, damaging winds across the southeastern US, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachian mountains.
Helene is expected to turn northwestward towards Georgia and slow down over the Tennessee Valley today (Friday) and Saturday, according to the NHC.
More than 30 million people in southeastern US states have been warned to brace for flooding and tornados.
“Tropical storm conditions are occurring in southern and central Florida, and these conditions will continue spreading northward across the tropical storm warning areas in the southeastern US through early Friday,” the NHC said.
“Strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, will likely penetrate as far inland as the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.
“Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of six to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches.
This 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.”
Florida governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to “hunker down” and avoid the roads after one person was killed after a sign fell on a highway in the Tampa area.
“When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we’re going to be waking up to a state where very likely there’s been additional loss of life,” he said on Thursday. “And certainly, there’s going to be loss of property.”
Meanwhile, Mexico’s Pacific southwest coast faced Tropical Depression John strengthening to become a category one hurricane as it made landfall.