Hurricane Helene

This article is about the 2024 Atlantic hurricane. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Helene.

Hurricane Helene

Helene at peak intensity just prior to landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida late on September 26
Meteorological history
Formed	September 24, 2024
Extratropical	September 27, 2024
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure	938 mbar (hPa); 27.70 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	≥58
Damage	>$22 billion (2024 USD)
Areas affected	Yucatán Peninsula, Honduras, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Southeastern United States (Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois)
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Helene (/hɛˈliːn/, heh-LEEN) was a large, destructive, and fast-moving Atlantic hurricane that was the strongest to strike the Big Bend region of Florida on record. The eighth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Helene developed from a broad area of low pressure in the Western Caribbean Sea in late September that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first began watching on September 17. By September 24, the disturbance had consolidated enough to become a tropical storm as it approached the Yucatán Peninsula, receiving the name Helene. Favorable conditions led to the cyclone's gradual intensification, and it became a hurricane early on September 25. More pronounced and eventually rapid intensification ensued as Helene traversed the Gulf of Mexico the following day, reaching Category 4 intensity on the evening of September 26. Late on September 26, Helene made landfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida, near the city of Perry, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h).

In advance of Helene's expected landfall, the governors of Florida and Georgia declared states of emergency due to the significant impacts expected, including very high storm surge and hurricane-force gusts as far inland as Atlanta. Helene has also caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Hurricane warnings also extended further inland. As of September 28, a total of 58 deaths have been attributed to Helene.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On September 17, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) highlighted the potential for tropical cyclogenesis in the western Caribbean Sea. Several days later, on September 22, a broad low-pressure area developed within the western Caribbean. As the system traversed an environment conducive for tropical cyclone development, showers and thunderstorms associated with the disturbance gradually consolidated. Due to the system's imminent threat to land, it was designated Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine on September 23. The next day, Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters aircraft found that the system was producing flight-level winds of 52 mph (84 km/h) and had developed a better-defined center; the NHC accordingly upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Helene at 15:00 UTC. The system continued strengthening, with NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters finding that Helene's maximum winds had increased to 80 mph (130 km/h). As a result, NHC upgraded the system to a hurricane by 15:00 UTC on September 25 as it began to enter the Gulf of Mexico while turning to the north. An upper-level trough to its west and a ridge of high pressure located off the Southeastern United States both served to steer the cyclone towards the U.S. Gulf Coast. Helene was a very large system, with the NHC noting in multiple forecast discussions that the forecast storm radii were "at the 90th percentile of hurricane size at similar latitudes".

Radar loop of Hurricane Helene at landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida

After remaining steady for a while due to its broad size and some entrainment of drier air to its west, Helene began its rapid intensification early on the morning of September 26 – aided by low mid-level wind shear, high relative humidity values and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) exceeding 30 °C (86 °F) near the Loop Current – as an increasingly well-defined eye developed, reaching Category 2 intensity at 12:00 UTC. Quickly strengthening, by 18:25 UTC Helene was found to have become a major hurricane by Hurricane Hunters, and 4 hours later, a Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane attained its peak intensity later that night with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 938 millibars (27.70 inHg) at 3:10 UTC on September 27 as it made landfall east of the center of the Aucilla River about 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Perry, Florida, becoming the strongest hurricane to strike Florida's Big Bend.

Rapid weakening occurred as the storm tracked inland, and by the time it reached Georgia at 05:00 UTC the next day, it had weakened into a Category 2 hurricane. Further weakening, a few hours later, it became a tropical storm over east central Georgia.

Preparations

Mexico

Tropical storm warnings were issued on September 24 for the eastern Yucatan Peninsula. Parts of Quintana Roo and Yucatán were placed under a blue alert, indicating indirect impacts. It was later raised to red alert, maximum danger. Cruise ship arrivals in the former state's ports were canceled for September 24 and 25. Tren Maya was also closed. On Isla Mujeres, two shelters were opened. Evacuations were carried out in vulnerable areas. Visitors of Isla Holbox were offered a ferry ride off the island with no cost. Classes were suspended in Quintana Roo.

Caribbean

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands were placed under a tropical storm warning on September 24. The Cayman Islands' Red Cross shelter opened in preparation for the storm; nobody used it. Sandbagging sites opened on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. Due to the threat of heavy rainfall, schools in the Cayman Islands were closed on September 23. Charles Kirkconnell International Airport and Owen Roberts International Airport would be closed ahead of Helene's arrival. The Cayman Islands Regiment was deployed ahead of the system to help with preparation and distribute sandbags. Additionally, a small craft warning was issued for the islands on September 23, with a marine advisory issued the next day. The tropical storm warning would later be canceled the next day.

Cuba

Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches were issued for western Cuba. Medical brigades were prepared for flood-prone areas; as heavy rain began to fall, schools and ports were closed, and fishing boats were called in. Due to adverse weather conditions caused by Helene, the Provincial Transport Company of Havana suspended ferry services in Regla. Additionally, the Maritime Administration of Cuba suspended navigation in the Gulf of Batabanó.

United States

Amtrak modified or canceled several of their Southeastern United States train routes between September 27–28 because of the storm.

Florida

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University sheltering part of its Cessna 172 fleet in a purpose-built parking garage in preparation for Hurricane Helene

Hurricane warnings were issued for the Big Bend area of Florida, with nearly all of Florida, except the westernmost part of the Florida panhandle, put under a tropical storm warning. In addition, on the evening of September 26, an extreme wind warning was issued for the east part of the Florida Panhandle, the first since Hurricane Idalia. On September 23, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 41 Florida counties. The next day, this was expanded to 61 counties. U.S. President Joe Biden authorized a federal disaster declaration for 61 counties across Florida. Locally, Volusia County issued a state of emergency. Several sandbagging sites opened up across the state. On September 24, several state parks would be closed: four of them in Franklin County, two in Gulf County, and one in Gadsen County.

In the Tampa Bay area, officials announced that schools would be closed ahead of the storm. A college football game between Florida A&M University and Alabama A&M University, which was scheduled for the weekend of September 28–29, would be postponed until November 29 due to the storm. In Florida State College at Jacksonville, classes and activities at the campus would be canceled for two days. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which would have launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on September 26, was delayed no earlier than September 28 due to the storm. The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens planned to close on September 26 and canceled events on that date. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was canceled for Helene. The universities of Central Florida, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Keiser, Lynn, North Florida, South Florida, and Stetson announced closures of their campuses and suspended academic operations. Leon County opened up schools to be used as shelters.

On September 24, Citrus County would issue mandatory evacuations for zone A, which includes coastal areas in the communities of Crystal River and Homosassa. In Wakulla County, a mandatory evacuation for all residents and visitors, while in ​Hernando County, mandatory evacuations were ordered for anyone west of U.S. Route 19 and all residents in coastal or low-lying areas and those living in manufactured homes. Two prisons in Wakulla Country holding a combined 2,500 inmates were not evacuated despite the evacuation order issued to residents. Gulf County would issue mandatory evacuations for all visitors. Elsewhere, in Charlotte County and Franklin County, mandatory evacuations were issued for barrier islands, low-lying and flood-prone areas, manufactured homes, and homes that did not meet building codes. In Sarasota County, officials issued an evacuation order for Level A and manufactured home communities on September 25.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport, and Tampa International Airport were closed on September 26. Further north, Tallahassee International Airport was closed the same day.

Georgia

The coast of Georgia was placed under tropical storm warnings while Southwest Georgia was under a hurricane warning, with the warnings later extending to the entire state. In addition, on the night of September 26, an extreme wind warning was issued for portions of South Georgia, including Valdosta. On September 24, in preparation for Helene, officials in the counties of Bryan, Candler, and Chatham began mobilizing emergency response centers. Colquitt, Thomas, and Decatur counties opened shelters. That same day, Governor Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency for Georgia since Helene was expected to track into the state. In Thomas County, the Public Works Department began providing sandbags due to the storm.

On September 25, schools were closed in the counties of Bibb and Twiggs. Atlanta pushed their students and non-essential workers online. Elsewhere, in Clayton County schools, indoor and outdoor athletic events were canceled. The Cumberland Island National Seashore and Fort Pulaski National Monument closed on September 25 in preparation for the hurricane. The Atlanta Braves postponed the remaining two games in a series against the New York Mets to September 30 in a doubleheader. Curfews were implemented by several localities on September 26.

Elsewhere

The entirety of South Carolina was placed under tropical storm warning. Governor Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency for South Carolina. Congaree National Park was closed September 26 through September 27 due to the hurricane.

Western North Carolina was placed under tropical storm warnings. Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for North Carolina. Both Gorges State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park were closed due to the storm, with a shutdown also occurring on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Some parts of Indiana and Ohio were placed under high wind warning or wind advisory alerts, as a result of remnants of the hurricane producing wind speeds of at least 10–35 mph (16–56 km/h) as well as potential wind gusts up to 50 mph (80 km/h).

In Alabama, Henry and Houston Counties were placed under a hurricane warning. Several eastern counties were also placed under tropical storm warning. Several school districts in Alabama either canceled school or released early in preparation for Helene. A state of emergency was approved for the state by Joe Biden. In Louisville, Kentucky, a music festival, Louder Than Life, canceled their Friday shows due to strong winds.

In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a state of emergency. Virginia Task Force 1 along with Maryland Task Force 1 were deployed to Hurricane Helene.

Impact

Honduras

Honduras experienced heavy rains as a result of the Central American gyre which proceeded Helene.

Mexico

Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm John both impacting Mexico on September 25

The region around Cancun received 240 millimetres (9.4 in) of rain. Over 120,000 customers, 14% of all Comisión Federal de Electricidad customers, lost power in Quintana Roo. Extreme flooding covering much of Isla Mujeres occurred. The island also experienced wind gusts up to 69 miles per hour (111 km/h). Cancun and Cozumel saw very rough surf, breaking the seawall in Cozumel and increasing beach erosion in Cancun. Flights in Cozumel Airport were delayed while Cancun International Airport saw nearly 100 cancellations or delays. Only minor delays occurred in Merida Airport. The companies most affected by Helene were Viva Aerobus, Volaris, and Aeromexico. Trees fell and roofs were damaged across the Yucatan Peninsula.

A gas explosion occurred in Cancun during Helene, but no fatalities were reported in Mexico.

Caribbean

A map highlighting areas affected by Hurricane Helene's tropical storm and hurricane force wind fields

Cayman Islands

Over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain fell onto the Cayman Islands. Heavy rainfall and large waves began affecting the Cayman Islands on September 24. Roads in George Town were flooded as rainfall produced by the storm caused 14 power outages, affecting 118 customers across Grand Cayman. The government began planning to buy land to aid in storm water management. After Helene had passed, Grand Cayman was impacted by 5–7 foot (1.5–2.1 m) waves on September 26.

Cuba

In Cuba, heavy rainfall occurred, with peak accumulations of 218.4 mm (8.60 in) recorded in Presa Herradura and 186.8 mm (7.35 in) in Palacios. Elsewhere, Punta del Este and Isla de la Juventud received 101 mm (4.0 in), Paso Real de San Diego received 78 mm (3.1 in), Pinar del Río received 72 mm (2.8 in), and Isabel Rubio received 70 mm (2.8 in). In Pinar del Río Province, 17 of the province's 24 reservoirs would overflow. Elsewhere, in El Palenque, road access would be cut off due to flooding caused by Helene. Helene's winds would cause a failure in the power lines which feeded the Guanito transmitter, causing most of the territory, especially San Juan and Martínez, Guane, Mantua, and Minas de Matahambre, to suffer blackouts. Gale-force winds would be recorded in the provinces of Isla de la Juventud and Pinar del Río. In total, around 70,000 customers experienced power outages in Pinar del Rio, with another 160,000 residents affected in Artemisa.

In Havana, one person was injured after an uninhabited building collapsed due to heavy rains and two landslides occurred. Intense rainfall caused the Cuyaguateje River to rise rapidly, causing flooding in parts of Pinar del Río in September 26. Flooding would also occur in Mayabeque Province, primarily in the municipalities of Batabanó, Melena del Sur, and San Nicolás de Bari.

United States

Impact by state

State	Deaths	Damage (USD)	Ref
Florida	12	Un­known
Georgia	17	Un­known
South Carolina	23	Un­known
North Carolina	6	Un­known
Tennessee	0	Un­known
Virginia	1	Un­known
West Virginia	0	Un­known
Kentucky	0	Un­known
Ohio	0	Un­known
Total	58	Unknown

See also: List of United States tornadoes from August to September 2024 § September 26 event

Flooding of Banyan Street in Boca Grande, Florida on September 26 before landfall

Initial estimates guessed insured losses could reach US$3–6 billion, according to reinsurance broker Gallagher Re. with AM Best estimating more than US$5 billion. However, newer estimates by Moody's Analytics estimated that the damages could reach US$20–34 billion. AccuWeather estimated that the total damage and economic loss could cost anywhere from US$95–110 billion.

Florida

By the morning of September 26, thousands in the Tampa Bay Area were experiencing power outages. Wind gusts reached 64 mph (103 km/h) in Fort Lauderdale and 67 mph (108 km/h) in Naples. Storm surges in Steinhatchee reached 9.63 feet (2.94 m). Key West experienced storm surge of 1 to 3 feet (0.30 to 0.91 m). Storm surges reached 9.5 feet (2.9 m) in Steinhatchee before the storm surge meter stopped recording, with heights reaching 7.18 feet (2.19 m) in Tampa. About 1.3 million people lost power in the state. The Stan Gober Memorial Bridge shut down due to flooding, and all sporting events in Collier County on September 27 were cancelled.

Multiple Waffle Houses in Tallahassee and one in Crawfordville shut down, raising the Waffle House Index to red which indicates the possibility of severe damage to the restaurant. Orlando International Airport, remaining open, saw 65 cancellations on September 26.

Twelve fatalities have been reported in Florida. including at least nine in Pinellas County; two in Tampa involving a car accident where a sign fell on a car on Interstate 4, along with an elderly woman who drowned inside her house; and one in Dixie County involving a tree falling on a home. The Taylor County Sheriff's office posted to social media asking for those who did not evacuate to write their birthday and other important information on their bodies in permanent marker and to email the similar information and their location to them to help search and rescue teams. Pasco County's Sheriff rescued around 200 people in water emergencies. In Citrus County, over 100 people and 50 pets were rescued after ten feet of storm surge hit the area.

Multiple buildings caught fire in Clearwater Beach following storm surge.

Despite not directly affecting Volusia County, gale-force gusts downed several trees, with a peak of 53 mph (85 km/h) in the county. More than 9,000 residents were without power in as of September 27. In Edgewater, a carport blew over while a tree fell through the roof of a mobile home in the Sea Horse Mobile Home Park. Elsewhere, in Flagler County, the highest gusts recorded were in Marineland, which had winds of 63 mph (101 km/h). Approximately 20,000 residents lost power from September 26 and 27. A tree fell through a roof at a home in Palm Coast, while in Palm Beach, a "small scarp" received a local surge of 18 in (460 mm).

Georgia

Radar loop showing Hurricane Helene over Georgia

Three people, a mother and her twin infants, died in McDuffie County. Two people died in Wheeler County as a result of a tornado overturning their mobile home. A person was killed in Colquitt County after their vehicle crashed into a fallen tree. Two deaths were reported in Laurens County, when a person was killed by a tree falling on their house and the other person was killed in a car crash, and in Blackshear, a firefighter also died when a tree fell on their vehicle. In Jeff Davis County, two people were killed by falling trees. In Liberty County, one person was killed after a tree fell onto a camper. In Washington County, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy were killed trapped inside their home due to a tree hitting the residence, starting a fire. In Columbia County, one person was killed after a tree fell onto their mobile home. Over a million customers were left without power in the state during Helene.

JD Vance canceled two events for the 2024 Trump–Vance campaign scheduled in Georgia. In Atlanta, the National Weather Service issued the city's first ever flash flood emergency due to Atlanta having its heaviest 3-day rainfall totals in 104 years. Rainfall totals in the city reached 11.12 in (282 mm). About 25 people had to be rescued from floods in Atlanta. In Columbus, Georgia, a daily rainfall record was set with around 4 in (100 mm) of rain on September 26. Wind gust in the city reached 38 mph (61 km/h), with gusts reaching 59 mph (95 km/h) in Macon and 80 mph (130 km/h) in Augusta.

North Carolina

Two people, a 4-year-old girl in Claremont and a 58-year-old man in Gastonia, were killed in traffic accidents during rains caused by Helene. Around 879,000 customers in the state lost power. In Charlotte, high winds from Helene caused a tree to fall onto a residence, killing one person and seriously injuring another. Residents living downstream of Lake Lure were ordered to evacuate as the Lake Lure Dam was overtopped by water and imminent failure was expected. Lake Lure Dam was later evaluated with no imminent failure expected, although erosion on both sides of the dam and compromisation of the structural supports were reported. In Rocky Mount, a low end EF3 tornado related to Hurricane Helene touched down, damaging 14 buildings and injuring 15 people, including four critically. The village of Chimney Rock was largely destroyed from the overtop of the Lake Lure Dam.

A curfew was issued for Asheville due to the damage that occurred inside the city. The city broke their record for two day rainfall, recording 9.87 in (251 mm) of rain. Landslides around Asheville forced sections of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40 to close, and triggered a flash flood emergency for the location. Appalachian State's football game against Liberty was canceled due to flooding and was not rescheduled. A mudslide and floodwaters from the Pigeon River washed out a section of Interstate 40 at the North Carolina–Tennessee border, forcing another closure. In Busick, rainfall totals reached 30.78 in (782 mm).

NCDOT issued a statement on their website that all roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed.

A unit from the 1st Battalion of the 169th Aviation Regiment, part of the Connecticut Army National Guard, was deployed to help assist disaster relief efforts.

South Carolina

Twenty-three people were killed in South Carolina: five in Spartanburg County, four in Aiken County, four in Greenville County, two in Anderson County after trees fell onto homes, two in Newberry County, and two firefighters in Saluda County after being struck by a falling tree. Over 1.3 million customers were without power in South Carolina, the most of any state impacted by Helene, with several counties experiencing a near-complete loss of power. Wind gusts reached 72 mph (116 km/h) in Aiken and Anderson.

Tennessee

58 people had to be rescued via helicopters, with units from the Virginia State Police assisting, from Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, after the hospital was almost submerged entirely. Part of a set of bridges on Interstate 26 spanning the Nolichucky River in Erwin were completely washed away. The Nashville Predators postponed a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning to October 7 due to severe weather in the area. Nashville broke a daily rainfall record on September 27. Elsewhere, in Morristown, several trees fell down, causing power lines to be broken throughout the city. In Newport, the Pigeon River rose to over three times the flood stage and set a new record at 26 feet (7.9 m), flooding portions of the town and nearby Interstate 40. Early on September 28, TVA issued a Condition Red alert for the Nolichucky Dam, saying that a failure of the dam was imminent, and local authorities issued an evacuation order. However, it was reported by late morning the same day that water levels along the Nolichucky River were lowering, and the TVA was investigating the dam to figure out next steps.

Elsewhere

One person was killed in Craig County, Virginia after a tree fell onto a building. Rainfall reached 12.2 in (310 mm) in the Grayson Highlands. Power outages in the state reached 190,000 people. In LaRue County, Kentucky experienced up to 3.61 in (92 mm) of rain. A daily rainfall record was broken in Lexington. Wind gusts in Morgan County exceeded 60 mph (97 km/h). Across Kentucky, nearly 220,000 customers lost power.

In West Virginia, heavy rainfall occured. Running high water was seen in Bluefield as trees blocked multiple roadways. Elsewhere, fallen trees were seen across parts of Fayette County. In Mercer County, more than 20,000 customers lost power due to Helene. Despite that, Helene's rains would be primarily beneficial, alleviating drought conditions which had been present in the state since August 2024.

In Illinois, Helene's remnants would produce heavy rains and high winds, causing several thousand outages.

Over 120,000 customers lost power in Ohio. Wind gusts in the state reached 67 mph (108 km/h).

See also

• Weather of 2024
• Tropical cyclones in 2024
• Timeline of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
• List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Florida hurricanes (2000–present)
• Hurricane Hermine (2016) — Hurricane that also struck the Big Bend region and caused damage across Georgia and the Carolinas
• Hurricane Michael (2018) – Hurricane that severely impacted the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 hurricane
• Hurricane Ian (2022) – Similar impacts as a Category 5 hurricane in an area just south of where Helene impacted
• Hurricane Idalia (2023) – Impacted the Big Bend at a similar intensity a year prior
• Hurricane Debby (2024) – Category 1 hurricane that made landfall in the Florida Big Bend about a month before

External links

• The National Hurricane Center's advisory archive on Hurricane Helene