Hurricane Helene hits the US as CAT4 with catastrophic consequences

Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Thursday night as a CAT4, bringing dangerous sea-level rise, heavy rains and high winds.

In addition to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, as well as the South and North Carolinas were in the path of the hurricane, which became a tropical storm as it moved rapidly inland, causing flash flooding.

Despite evacuation advisories in effect in several areas affected by the storm, at least 45 deaths had been confirmed in Florida, North Carolina and Georgia, at the time of writing. The death toll is expected to rise daily, unfortunately.

Despite the authorities’ efforts to cut trees to protect power lines on the eve of the storm, more than 4 million residents were left without power in the affected regions.

The hurricane’s power grew rapidly, with sea surface temperatures along Helene’s path in the Gulf of Mexico reaching as high as 89 degrees Fahrenheit, 2 to 4 degrees above normal, according to experts.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told a news conference that Helene brought “historic sea rise” to the Big Bend and Tampa Bay areas.

Extensive damage was reported, with much residential and commercial flooding in areas affected by Helene.

Authorities reported numerous rescue operations for citizens in danger, who had become trapped by flash flooding.

The storm continued on Friday, as Florida authorities warned residents that, although the bulk of the storm had passed, there remained a risk of elevated flash flooding.

These hazard warnings were in effect in five states as the storm moved into Tennessee on Friday, and a failing levee threatened the lives of even more citizens in that state.

Helene is the fourth hurricane to reach the Gulf Coast this year, a relatively rare event, and the eighth named storm of the season, in what is billed as an exceptionally favorable year for major hurricane formation.