Hurricane Helene Live Tracker – Newsweek

UPDATE: Hurricane Helene traveled north from Florida to Georgia and was about 100 miles from Augusta and 40 miles from Macon, moving at a speed of about 30 miles per hour, the hurricane center in Miami said in a 4 a.m. update with.

The hurricane slammed ashore in northwest Florida late Thursday as a powerful Category 4 storm, unleashing catastrophic winds and torrential rains that left millions of people without power and triggered emergency declarations in several states.

The storm has prompted hurricane and flash flood warnings extending well inland to northern Georgia and western North Carolina, with forecasters warning of dangerous conditions far beyond the coast. Maps from weather forecaster Windy.com show its path and damage.

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Helene Storm Path Tracker

As Hurricane Helene moved inland, the storm claimed its first victims: One person died in Florida when a sign fell on their car, while two others were reported dead in south Georgia, where a possible tornado struck as the storm approached .

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“When Floridians wake up tomorrow morning, we will wake up in a state where there will very likely be additional loss of life and certainly property loss,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a Thursday evening news conference, highlighting the deadly toll of the coronavirus Sturm highlights.

Helene satellite tracker

Weather satellites are tracking Hurricane Helene's approach to the Florida coast, mapping the storm's increasing threat from space. The hurricane's impact extends beyond Earth, forcing NASA and SpaceX to postpone the planned launch of a new crew to the International Space Station due to dangerous conditions. According to NASA's Rob Navias, the International Space Station will conduct a second, more direct flyby over Hurricane Helene at 2:25 p.m. EDT (1825 GMT), providing close-up views of the storm for about five minutes. While the flyover will not be livestreamed, NASA plans to release the recorded footage via the NASA+ streaming service and its social media channels.

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Helene storm surge tracker

The weather service warned that storm surges in Apalachee Bay could be particularly “catastrophic and unsurvivable.” “Please, please, please take all evacuation orders seriously!” The office said the surge scenario was “a nightmare.” Federal authorities dispatched search and rescue teams. Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, said: “A truly insurmountable scenario is going to play out.”

Helene precipitation tracker

Hurricane Helene's reach extended well beyond Florida, inundating the mountains of North Carolina with up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain, and forecasters warned that up to 14 inches (36 cm) more could fall before the storm subsides . Officials warned that the resulting flooding could be the worst the region has seen in the past century.

Meanwhile, heavy rains and strong winds began hitting Valdosta, Georgia, near the Florida border, on Thursday. The National Weather Service reported that more than a dozen Georgia counties could be hit by hurricane-force winds exceeding 110 mph (177 km/h) as Helene continued its destructive march north.

Helene wind gust tracker

The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Hurricane Helene made landfall near the mouth of the Aucilla River in the Big Bend region of Florida. The storm brought maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, making it a powerful Category 4 system. This location is just 20 miles northwest of where Hurricane Idalia made landfall last year with nearly the same intensity, causing widespread damage throughout the region.

Helene wave tracker

Waves as high as 20 feet are expected to batter Florida's coast as the state faces a “highly dangerous” weather pattern. Authorities expect widespread damage to boats, port infrastructure, beaches, wildlife and homes near the coast. “Helene continues to produce catastrophic winds that are now moving into southern Georgia,” the National Hurricane Center warned in an update at 1 a.m. Friday. “Individuals should not leave their accommodations and remain in place during these life-threatening conditions.”

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press