Weather Alert
This product covers North and Central Georgia**HELENE TO BRING UNPRECEDENTED WIND AND FLOODING IMPACTS TO NORTH AND
CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH FRIDAY**
NEW INFORMATION
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* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- The Tropical Storm Warning has been upgraded to a Hurricane
Warning for Butts, Jasper, Jones, Laurens, Pike, Spalding,
Wheeler, and Wilkinson
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bibb, Bleckley, Butts,
Chattahoochee, Crawford, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Jasper,
Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Muscogee, Peach,
Pike, Pulaski, Schley, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot,
Taylor, Telfair, Twiggs, Upson, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, and
Wilkinson
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Baldwin, Banks,
Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke,
Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Emanuel,
Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Glascock, Gordon,
Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris, Heard,
Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lumpkin, Madison,
Meriwether, Montgomery, Morgan, Murray, Newton, North Fulton,
Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Putnam, Rockdale,
South Fulton, Taliaferro, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troup,
Union, Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington, White, Whitfield,
and Wilkes
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 400 miles south of Atlanta GA or about 280 miles south of
Cordele GA
- 27.9N 84.6W
- Storm Intensity 125 mph
- Movement North-northeast or 25 degrees at 23 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
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Hurricane Helene, currently southwest of the Florida Peninsula, will
accelerate northward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico today. Helene
is forecast to become a major hurricane before making landfall along
the Big Bend of Florida on this evening. Due to the intensity and
fast forward motion, unprecendented wind and flooding impacts,
rivaling or exceeding those of Hurricanes Opal (1995), Irma (2017)
and Michael (2018), are expected across the north and central
Georgia.
Several areas have already received 2 to 4 inches of rain in the
last 24 hours. Additional rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, with
localized amounts over 10 inches, are expected. The highest amounts
will occur over a wide swath paralleling I-85 into northeast and
east central Georgia. Widespread flooding is expected with
significant flash flooding and moderate to major river flooding
possible.
Tropical storm and hurricane force wind gusts, potentially exceeding
80 mph, are expected to begin across the southern portion of the
forecast area on this evening, then quickly spread north overnight
into Friday morning. Hurricane Force wind gusts will be possible for
some locations including the Atlanta Metro extending eastward
towards Athens and in the higher terrain of the northeast Georgia
mountains. Outside of these locations, Tropical Storm force wind
gusts are expected all the way up to the border with Tennessee and
North Carolina. Given the saturated soils, widespread downing of
trees and significant power outages are expected. Prepare for an
extended period of power loss!
Short-lived tornadoes will also be possible across east-central
Georgia today through early Friday morning, with the greatest
potential over areas north and east of the track of Helene.
Helene will be an expansive system with impacts occurring well away
from the storm center.
All preparations should be rushed to completion before impacts begin.
The time to act is now!
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
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* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
devastating impacts across portions of north and central Georgia.
Potential impacts include:
- Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and
rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks
in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks,
canals, arroyos, and ditches may become raging rivers. In
mountain areas, deadly runoff may rage down valleys while
increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood
control systems and barriers may become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape
routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water
with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very
dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened
or washed out.
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
significant to extensive impacts across north and central Georgia.
* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts
across portions of central Georgia. Potential impacts in this area
include:
- Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed.
Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be
uninhabitable for weeks.
- Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over.
- Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and
access routes impassable.
- Large areas with power and communications outages.
Also, protect against dangerous wind having possible limited to
significant impacts across the remainder of central Georgia and north
Georgia
* TORNADOES:
Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant
impacts across east-central Georgia. Potential impacts include:
- The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots
of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
- Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or
uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about.
Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across central Georgia.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
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* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and
property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a
safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.
Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone
area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded
roadway. Remember, turn around don't drown!
If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large
trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or
on a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of
strong winds or flooding.
If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter
quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not
prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter
options.
Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles
can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide
poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly
ventilated area.
Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets
for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes
to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather
warnings.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on creating an emergency plan see ready.ga.gov
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
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The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Peachtree City GA around 1130 PM EDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.
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