Main Changes from Previous Briefing:

•     Helene became a Major Hurricane earlier this afternoon.
•     Major Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall this evening as a category 4 hurricane.
•     The track has shifted a little east but overall, only minor changes have been made to the potential impacts from Hurricane Helene.    

Overview:

This will be an unprecedented event for the Hurricane Warning area, and recovery efforts could be prolonged.

Major Hurricane Helene is forecast to continue strengthening, making landfall along the Big Bend  Coast later this evening or overnight as a category 4 hurricane. Life-threatening, catastrophic impacts are expected to begin this evening and could last through Friday morning. These impacts will be amplified by the large size and fast forward speed of the storm.

Impacts include:

•     Life-threatening, catastrophic storm surge for Apalachee Bay
•     Potentially catastrophic wind damage possible near the eventual landfall point and along the track inland. This includes inland into Georgia.
•     Strong, damaging winds further away from the center due to the storm's size.
•     Flash flooding, potentially considerable or catastrophic and life-threatening.
•     Moderate river flooding, potentially major on some smaller streams.
•     Extremely dangerous beach/boating conditions.

Hurricane preparations should be completed and people should start hunkering down.