PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County Deputies and work crews are cleaning up the barrier islands. Photos shared by PCSO show the sand and debris in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
This is Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores.
Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm, made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area late Thursday night but rapidly weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland.
Despite the downgrade, Helene continues to pose a threat with life-threatening storm surge, strong winds, and heavy rain.
Read: Pasco Sheriff Warns Of Downed Power Lines In Wake Of Hurricane Helene
As of early Friday morning, Helene was located east of Macon, Georgia, and was moving north at 30 mph with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. The storm made landfall near Perry, Florida, with winds of 140 mph, making it the fourth hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast this year.
Over 2.8 million customers across five states are without power, with Florida being the hardest hit with 1.2 million outages. Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia are also experiencing significant power disruptions.
Sadly, at least three weather-related deaths have been attributed to Helene. Two fatalities occurred in Georgia, while one person was killed in the Tampa area when a traffic sign fell on a vehicle.
Several airports closed due to the storm, and airlines canceled nearly 1,300 flights on Thursday, with further cancellations expected.
Read: Pasco Sheriff’s Office Responds To Widespread Flooding From Hurricane Helene
While Helene has weakened, it continues to bring dangerous conditions to the Southeast. Residents are urged to remain cautious and follow the guidance of local authorities.
Forecast Track and Intensity
Helene is currently moving northward but is expected to turn northwest later today and interact with a weather system to its northwest. This interaction will likely slow Helene down and cause it to make a cyclonic loop before being absorbed into the larger system. The storm is forecast to lose its convection and become post-tropical within 12 hours, eventually transitioning into an extratropical cyclone before dissipating within 72 hours.
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