HLSFFC
This product covers North and Central Georgia
**HELENE TO BRING MAJOR IMPACTS TO NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA ON
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY**
NEW INFORMATION
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* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Hurricane
Warning for Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Pulaski, Schley, Stewart,
Sumter, Webster, and Wilcox
- The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm
Warning for Bibb, Bleckley, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dodge,
Houston, Marion, Muscogee, Peach, Talbot, Taylor, Telfair, and
Twiggs
- A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Harris
- A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Baldwin, Banks,
Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee,
Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas,
Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Glascock, Gordon,
Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Heard, Henry,
Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison,
Meriwether, Morgan, Murray, Newton, North Fulton, Oconee,
Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Rockdale,
South Fulton, Spalding, Taliaferro, Towns, Troup, Union,
Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington, White, Whitfield, and Wilkes
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Crisp, Dooly, Macon,
Pulaski, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Webster, and Wilcox
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bibb, Bleckley,
Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dodge, Harris, Houston, Marion,
Muscogee, Peach, Talbot, Taylor, Telfair, and Twiggs
- A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Baldwin, Banks, Barrow,
Bartow, Butts, 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, Heard, Henry,
Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Laurens,
Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan,
Murray, Newton, North Fulton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding,
Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Rockdale, South Fulton, Spalding,
Taliaferro, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troup, Union, Upson,
Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington, Wheeler, White, Whitfield,
Wilkes, and Wilkinson
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 850 miles south of Atlanta GA or about 750 miles south of
Columbus GA
- 21.6N 86.3W
- Storm Intensity 80 mph
- Movement North-northwest or 330 degrees at 10 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
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OVERVIEW...
Hurricane Helene is currently east of the Yucatan Peninsula and is
forecast to track northward and accelerate over the eastern Gulf of
Mexico through Thursday. Helene is forecast to become a major
hurricane shortly before making landfall along the Big Bend of
Florida on Thursday evening. Significant impacts are expected across
the north and central Georgia Thursday and Friday with lingering
flooding impacts over the weekend.
Rainfall amounts of 4 to 10 inches, with localized amounts over 12
inches, are expected. The highest amounts are expected over a wide
swatch along I-85 into northeast Georgia from Columbus to Atlanta to
Gainesville and the northeast Georgia mountains. Widespread flooding
is expected with significant flash flooding and moderate to
major river flooding possible.
Hurricane and tropical storm force wind gusts, potentially exceeding
70 mph, are expected to begin across the southern portion of the
forecast area on Thursday evening, then spread north overnight into
Friday morning and continuing into the afternoon. 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 Thursday evening through early Friday morning, with greatest
potential for areas north and east of the track of Helene.
Helene will be an expansive system with impacts occurring well away
from the storm center.
Preparations should be completed well before impacts begin. The time
to act is now!
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
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* FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
significant to extensive impacts across much 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.
* 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 significant
impacts across the remainder of north and central Georgia.
* TORNADOES:
Prepare for a dangerous tornado event having possible limited 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.
Elsewhere across North and Central Georgia, little to no impact is
anticipated.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
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* 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.
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.
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 you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as
a large inland lake, in a low-lying or poor drainage area, in a
valley, or near an already swollen river, plan to move to safe shelter
on higher ground.
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 before 6 PM, or sooner if conditions
warrant.
