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Helene weakens to tropical storm after at least three deaths in Florida and Georgia – live updates | Hurricane Helene

Helene is weakening to a tropical storm as life-threatening winds and rainfall continue

The National Hurricane Center said Helene is now a tropical storm as it moves further inland over Georgia. It noted that “life-threatening storm surges, winds and heavy rainfall continue.”

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In a 4 a.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said, “Helene continues to move inland over central Georgia, producing hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall.”

“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the center said.

“A University of Georgia weather station in Vidalia, Georgia, recently reported a wind gust of 77 mph (124 km/h). An ASOS station at Savannah International Airport in Georgia recently reported sustained winds of 49 mph (79 km/h) with a gust of 76 mph (122 km/h),” it said.

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Joe Biden said he was “following Hurricane Helene closely.”

“I urge everyone in and near Helene’s path to listen to local officials and heed evacuation warnings,” he said.

I am closely monitoring Hurricane Helene and my team is in contact with state and local officials on the ground and is ready to assist.

I urge everyone on and off Helene's path to listen to local authorities and heed evacuation warnings.

Take this seriously and be safe. pic.twitter.com/IGZf4MmC4p

– President Biden (@POTUS) September 27, 2024

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Hurricane-force winds continue to push into Georgia

The National Hurricane Center said in a 3 a.m. update that “Helene continues to produce hurricane-force winds that advance further into Georgia.”

“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Individuals should not leave their accommodations and remain in place during these life-threatening conditions. While keeping an eye on people are reminded not to venture out into the relative calm as dangerous winds will increase very quickly as the center passes,” it said.

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Tell us: Are you affected by Hurricane Helene?

If you have been affected by the storm, we would like to hear from you. Please tell us your story if you are at least 18 years old, anonymously if you wish.

However, the most important thing is your safety. When recording or sharing your content with us, please put your well-being and the well-being of others first. Extreme weather events can be very unpredictable and pose very real risks.

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What is a storm surge and what danger does Hurricane Helene pose?

Hurricane Helene is expected to bring life-threatening storm surges of up to 6 meters to the Florida coast.

The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia have declared states of emergency in their states.

In Florida, massive storm surges after initial landfall were the focus of warnings from officials, who described Helene as an unusually large storm with a wind field extending 275 miles (440 km) from its center.

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Hurricane Helene is the strongest storm to hit the US mainland since then Idaliathat sped into Florida from Keaton Beach on August 30 last year.

Similar in strength and location to Helene at landfall, Idalia followed a nearly identical path through the Gulf of Mexico en route to becoming the third strongest cyclone to hit Florida's Big Bend.

Its strength was such that Florida's famous flamingos were spotted as far away as Ohio and Pennsylvania after the storm. Idalia was blamed for 12 U.S. deaths and caused an estimated $3.6 billion in damage. Officials fear Helene's fatality could be much worse.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these are the five costliest hurricanes in the United States: 1, 2005 Katrina ($200 billion in damages; 1,200 deaths); 2, Harvey 2017 ($160 billion; 107); 3, January 2022 ($118.5 billion; 161); 4, Maria 2017 ($115.2 billion; 3,059); 5, Sandy 2012 ($88.5 billion; 233).

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NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting 260 miles above Earth, captured this video of Hurricane Helene in 2019 Gulf of Mexico on Thursday.

Watch as station cameras from 260 miles up monitor Hurricane Helene as it approaches Florida's Gulf Coast with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour. https://t.co/XSTg6lj6Dk

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) September 26, 2024

The footage shows the storm, which had winds of 100 miles per hour at the time, increasing in size and intensity in the hours immediately before landfall.

ISS and satellite images from space have proven invaluable after previous hurricanes, helping officials assess the extent of damage and plan recovery and recovery efforts.

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Helene may not be the strongest hurricane to devastate the United States, but it is certainly one of the largest.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), it is larger than 90% of all other tropical cyclones that have formed in the Atlantic or Caribbean in the past 20 years, with a wind field nearly 500 miles wide. According to CNN, that's the same distance from Indianapolis to Washington DC or from London to Glasgow.

This means areas far inland that normally escape the devastation of even the strongest storms will be affected this time. In a lunchtime advisory Thursday, the NHC's senior hurricane specialist said John Cangialosi said strong gusts are expected in northern Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Appalachia:

Helene is a very large hurricane. When comparing the system to previous hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in recent decades, Helene is actually at the upper limit in terms of size.

As a result, storm surge, wind and precipitation impacts will extend well from the center and well beyond the forecast cone, particularly on the eastern side.

By Thursday evening, the entire state was Florida was under storm watch or warnings and was governor Ron DeSantis had declared a state of emergency in 61 of 67 counties.

North Carolinagovernor Roy Cooper warned of “significant flash floods, landslides, damaging debris flows, slope failures in steep terrain and river flooding” in his state.

“Even areas that don’t normally experience flooding can experience flooding,” he said.

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At least three dead as Hurricane Helene makes landfall

Hurricane Helene landed as Category 4 According to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), a hurricane struck the Big Bend region of Florida around 11:10 p.m. EDT on Thursday. When Helene made landfall, it was one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit Florida.

The storm weakened to a Category 1 overnight.

According to CNN, at least three people have died. One died after a sign fell and hit a car in Florida, and two died in Georgia when they were caught in a tornado associated with the storm.

Melvin Juarbe (right) tries to help an unknown driver whose car stalled in floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in Madeira Beach, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Photo: Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock
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By Vanessa

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