Category 4 Hurricane Helene continues to push toward a landfall in Florida this evening, intensifying rapidly as it does so. Here at home in the Lowcountry, we have been dealing with a fair bit of rain for much of the day, though the severe weather to this point has avoided the Tri-County. That may run out soon, though, as more rain bands develop and move ashore as we get into tonight and the overnight hours.
Charleston Weather is partnering with the Charleston City Paper to bring you live updates on Helene as the storm impacts the area. Learn more about the partnership.
5PM update: Helene on course for landfall
Note: the map above displays information as of the 5PM advisory. An update has been issued that strengthens Helene’s winds to 130 MPH as of 6PM.
Helene is on course for a landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida tonight. It is moving very quickly — NNE at 23 MPH — as it continues to intensify rapidly up to landfall. In fact, lightning is flashing in the eyewall, a sure sign of continued intensification. It will barge across Florida and into Georgia, heading well into the state as a Category 2 storm before winding down Friday afternoon.
The landfall point has shifted a touch eastward today, and that could increase the wind risk locally (more on that in a moment), but otherwise, our impacts generally remain the same.
Impacts for the Charleston area as of 6:30 PM
Rain & surge…