Helene develops, forecast to make landfall as major hurricane, flooding spreads inland

Tropical Storm Helene has formed in the northwestern Caribbean. Helene has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of Tuesday morning but intensification, potentially rapid, is forecast the remainder of Tuesday through Thursday before landfall.

Helene forecast track

Landfall is expected Thursday evening in Florida somewhere along the Florida Panhandle or Coastal Bend of Florida as a Major Category 3 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds around 115 mph. Not only are winds with Helene a concern but the storm surge is expected to be a significant factor with the hurricane along with isolated tornadoes and heavy rain that could lead to areas of flooding.

The heavy rain moves inland across the South, Southeast, into the Carolinas, Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys, potentially spreading into Ozark region from late week through the weekend where a widespread 3 to 7 inches of rain will fall. Isolated higher amounts are possible especially from terrain enhancements across the region.

7-day rainfall forecast