Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida as a devastating Category 4 storm

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Severe Hurricane Helene barreled ashore in Florida’s Big Bend region as a catastrophic Category 4 cyclone, lashing the region with hurricane-force winds and threatening a potentially “unsurvivable” 20-foot storm surge and flooding rains.

Helene made landfall near Taylor County, Florida, between Tallahassee and Tampa, with impacts felt hundreds of miles away. At least two deaths were reported in Wheeler County, Georgia, where a mobile home was damaged during one of the many tornado warnings.

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As Hurricane Helene hits Florida, power outages are becoming more frequent

Power outages have increased as the center of Helene has moved to the coast. More than 800,000 people were without power in the Sunshine State as wind gusts reached or exceeded hurricane strength. St. Petersburg recorded a gust of 82 mph, while Sarasota recorded a wind gust of 74 mph.

Significant outages were also reported in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

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FOX Weather’s Ian Oliver said the high tide quickly inundated the streets around St. Pete Beach Thursday evening, and high tide was still several hours away.

And further south, in a community called Sunset Beach, the local fire department said it would no longer respond to calls for help due to the flooding.

Clearwater Beach reported the highest rise since the 1993 superstorm, with levels exceeding 7 feet.

HURRICANE HELENE CHASE: LIVE FORECAST CONES, SPAGHETTI MODELS, WARNINGS, WIND PROJECTIONS AND MORE

Storm surge remained a major threat during the system’s advance into the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Helene posed a significant risk of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and the Big Bend region of Florida due to the storm’s enormous size.

The highest flooding, with storm surges of up to 20 feet, was expected from Carrabelle to the Suwannee River in Florida. Elsewhere, such as Apalachicola and Chassahowitzka, a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet was expected.

“A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where flooding could reach up to 20 feet above ground level and cause destructive waves,” the NHC warned. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called the expected storm surge in Apalachee Bay “catastrophic and potentially unsurvivable.”

Helene’s effects are felt far inland

Helene’s impacts will be felt well beyond the Big Bend coastal area, with hurricane-force winds likely across Tallahassee and into Georgia as the storm tracks inland overnight into Friday morning. The storm’s combination of speed and size means it maintains its strength further inland than most hurricanes.

“Phase 2 of the storm will be tonight when Helene makes landfall,” said FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Byran Norcross. “From what we know, the damage will be widespread around Tallahassee, east and west, and far north into Georgia. These are heavily forested communities that cannot withstand extreme winds. The power could be out for weeks.”

Several inches of rain will result in widespread and potentially catastrophic flash flooding across the Southeast.

Where does Helene go after she hits Florida? Catastrophic flooding could occur in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

A fatal accident was reported on Interstate 4 in Tampa.

(FDOT/FOX Weather)

During the hurricane, the Florida Highway Patrol responded to a serious crash along Interstate 4 with the possibility of a fatality.

In a video from the Florida Department of Transportation, a highway sign appeared to be detached and resting on a car.

Soldiers have not revealed what they believe caused the crash but urged residents to simply stay home until the worst of the weather leaves the region.