HELENA IS NOW A CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE! IT IS A MASSIVE, DANGEROUS HURRICANE AS IT HEADS NORTHEAST

RISKAlert ?#1998 -?Sept. ?25,? 2024?- Gulf of Mexico and State of Florida

Hurricane Helene has emerged from the Yucatan Channel this morning, gradually strengthening as it becomes more organized. Helene is forecast to begin a gradual turn toward; the north and north-northeast over the next 48 hours, as it takes aim at the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and Florida’s Big Bend region.

At 5:00 AM ET, Hurricane Helene was located about 120 miles southwest of the western tip of Cuba, moving northwest at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 65 mph, accompanied by higher gusts. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have said Helene is now a Category 1 Hurricane. ?They predict that Helene will become a major Category 3 hurricane in 24-48 hours as it speeds up and moves ?through the eastern Gulf of Mexico and parallel to Florida’s West Coast.

Landfall still is expected on Thursday evening in the vicinity of the Big Bend. A state of emergency has been declared for 61 Florida counties. Emergency management officials have urged residents to ensure they have their emergency weather plan and to be prepared to evacuate. ?Helene has begun to increase in size, which it is expected to maintain up to the time of landfall. This is important because a larger storm will have greater forward momentum at landfall and will cause damaging effects farther inland.

Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds in excess of 111 mph may accompany the hurricane during landfall.? Heavy rainfall is expected to cause local flash and urban flooding across portions of Florida, with isolated flash and urban flooding possible across the Southeast, southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley from late today through Friday.

Hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings have been posted along all of Florida's West Coast, including the Keys, and its Atlantic Coast as far north as the Georgia/South Carolina border.

Helene will be a massive and life-endangering hurricane,

with a forecast track and intensity that could change without warning. ?Businesses and Residents located all along Florida’s West Coast are urged to closely monitor the progress of the storm and to rush

Preparations to completion as soon as possible. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly on Thursday and Helene’s effects will begin hours before landfall.? Barring a change in the forecast, this will be PREMIER FORECASTING SERVICES’ final advisory on Hurricane Helene. Interests in the watch and warned areas are advised to monitor local media and National Weather Service Radio broadcasts for the latest information as Helene approaches.

If you shelter-in-place, remain indoors until the storm completely passes and public safety officials declare it is safe to venture outside with caution. If ordered to evacuate, ensure that you have a primary and a secondary egress route.

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