Hurricane Helene Updates & Info

[James Bentwood]

Walton County School District has announced that all schools will close Thursday, September 26th, due to expected weather conditions from Tropical Storm Helene. The closure includes both students and employees, as well as extracurricular activities and SPICE.

Walton County schools are still planned to be open on Wednesday, September 25th and Friday, September 27th. However, the district will continue to monitor the weather with local experts and advises residents to stay engaged with district and school websites and social media platforms for further information.

 

[Teresa]

NOAA
Wednesday Sep 25

...HELENE JUST OFFSHORE THE NORTHEASTERN COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA, CLOSE TO HURRICANE STRENGTH...

Here are the latest key messages for Tropical Storm #Helene:

Advisory 8: 4:00 am CDT Wednesday September 25, 2024

1. Helene is forecast to intensify and be near hurricane strength when it passes near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula during the next several hours, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect.

2. Helene is expected to rapidly intensify and grow in size over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend. The highest inundation levels are expected along the coast of the Florida Big Bend. Residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so.

3. Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of coast of the Florida Big Bend, where a Hurricane Warning is now in effect. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday since tropical storm conditions are expected to begin within this area on Thursday.

4. Tropical Storm Helene will bring heavy rain to portions of the western Caribbean with potentially significant flooding across western Cuba and the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula. Considerable and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding is expected across portions of Florida, the Southeast, the Southern Appalachians, and the Tennessee Valley beginning today through Friday. This includes the risk of landslides across the southern Appalachians. Widespread minor to moderate river flooding is likely, and isolated major river flooding is possible.

For the latest advisory, visit: hurricanes.gov/#Helene

En Espanol: TROPICAL STORM HELENE

 

[Kurt]

Helene has become a hurricane as expected, and is forecast to make landfall as a category 3, possibly 4.

 

[Teresa]

US National Weather Service
Tallahassee Florida

9/2511am Update on #Helene. Helene has become a hurricane and is forecast to strengthen rapidly into a major hurricane prior to making landfall along the northeast Gulf Coast Thursday Evening. Details of the threats and impacts below.

Surge/Wind: Damage will likely be significant, and folks should continue to prepare for a major hurricane and the potential of 10-15 feet of storm surge inundation along the coast. The fast motion of Helene will bring wind concerns much further inland than usual for a tropical system.

Rainfall: Showers and storms are likely to become more numerous today, but these won't be associated directly with Helene. However, their rainfall, and future amounts from Helene on Thurs/Fri, will likely lead to a considerable threat for flash flooding and riverine flooding.

Tornado: Showers and storms are possible today. While widespread severe is not expected, an isolated storm could be strong/severe this afternoon. The main tornado threat arrives on Thurs. as outer bands rotate through. Greatest threat is across our east.

 

[Teresa]

Walton County Emergency Management
Here's the latest on #HurricaneHelene from the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center and US National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida. Thank you for your patience, as many updates have come between the last advisory and now.

Biggest news is Helene is now a HURRICANE and Walton County is now under a TROPICAL STORM WARNING.

We cannot stress enough how large this storm is, projected to be between 400-500 miles wide. While Walton County is not in the "cone of uncertainty," impacts will be seen far outside of the cone, including heavy rain, flash flooding, potential tornadoes, and tropical storm force winds. Portions of the Panhandle are already starting to see showers with impacts continuing throughout this evening into tomorrow.

For #WaltonCounty, heavy rainfall and severe weather is likely. Here's the latest:

Rain: For coastal areas, we do have a low-end tornado threat this afternoon, as we start to see severe storms enter our area today. A projected 5-7 inches of rain with a strong chance of higher isolated amounts is likely. We are in a MODERATE risk for flash flooding throughout the next few days.

Wind: Walton is now under a Tropical Storm Warning, with potential for winds to reach 73 MPH sustained. Our current wind threat likely for Thursday and Friday is between 39-57 MPH sustained. Timing for sustained winds are expected tomorrow (Thursday, September 26) morning.

Bridge Closures: At this time, there are no bridge closures. Closures are up to Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol, with a trigger of 40 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS. Our county does not have any authority to close bridges and you will be the first to know if there are any changes.

Evacuation: There are NO evacuation orders in place. Remember, if we do order any evacuations, there will be a shelter in place for you to go to.

Sandbags: Sandbag locations are still open in South Walton and Freeport. Bags and sand are available, but you will need to bring your own shovel. If you are physically unable to shovel your own bags, please send our FB a private message.

Walton County School District, Florida: School will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, 2024, due to high winds and bussing operations. At this time, school remains open for Friday, September 27, 2024.

Community Information Center Hotline: For questions about the storm, please feel free to call our CIC at (850) 892-8392.

Be Prepared: We have been preaching this all week - Mother Nature is unpredictable and this is expected to be a MAJOR hurricane. Do not be caught without a plan. Visit our website for disaster preparedness information and sign up for AlertWalton for key updates: AlertWalton.org | waltoncountyem.org

 

[UpNorth]

Fox News doing its thing…

 

[Kurt]

From this afternoon but a lot of good info.

 

[outofadream]

Walton County Emergency Management
Here's the latest on #HurricaneHelene from the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center and US National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida. Thank you for your patience, as many updates have come between the last advisory and now.

Biggest news is Helene is now a HURRICANE and Walton County is now under a TROPICAL STORM WARNING.

We cannot stress enough how large this storm is, projected to be between 400-500 miles wide. While Walton County is not in the "cone of uncertainty," impacts will be seen far outside of the cone, including heavy rain, flash flooding, potential tornadoes, and tropical storm force winds. Portions of the Panhandle are already starting to see showers with impacts continuing throughout this evening into tomorrow.

For #WaltonCounty, heavy rainfall and severe weather is likely. Here's the latest:

Rain: For coastal areas, we do have a low-end tornado threat this afternoon, as we start to see severe storms enter our area today. A projected 5-7 inches of rain with a strong chance of higher isolated amounts is likely. We are in a MODERATE risk for flash flooding throughout the next few days.

Wind: Walton is now under a Tropical Storm Warning, with potential for winds to reach 73 MPH sustained. Our current wind threat likely for Thursday and Friday is between 39-57 MPH sustained. Timing for sustained winds are expected tomorrow (Thursday, September 26) morning.

Bridge Closures: At this time, there are no bridge closures. Closures are up to Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol, with a trigger of 40 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS. Our county does not have any authority to close bridges and you will be the first to know if there are any changes.

Evacuation: There are NO evacuation orders in place. Remember, if we do order any evacuations, there will be a shelter in place for you to go to.

Sandbags: Sandbag locations are still open in South Walton and Freeport. Bags and sand are available, but you will need to bring your own shovel. If you are physically unable to shovel your own bags, please send our FB a private message.

Walton County School District, Florida: School will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, 2024, due to high winds and bussing operations. At this time, school remains open for Friday, September 27, 2024.

Community Information Center Hotline: For questions about the storm, please feel free to call our CIC at (850) 892-8392.

Be Prepared: We have been preaching this all week - Mother Nature is unpredictable and this is expected to be a MAJOR hurricane. Do not be caught without a plan. Visit our website for disaster preparedness information and sign up for AlertWalton for key updates: AlertWalton.org | waltoncountyem.org

Where are you getting this information from you are scaring people Teresa… Our local weather meteorologists are who the people need to listen to.. You are not a meteorologist the hurricane weather center are the people who know not you.

 

[Kurt]

Where are you getting this information from you are scaring people Teresa… Our local weather meteorologists are who the people need to listen to.. You are not a meteorologist the hurricane weather center are the people who know not you.

The info is from Walton County Emergency Management. Which is who we rely on for information and action locally.
Their information is from multiple sources... NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center and US National Weather Service, among others.

Walton County Emergency Management | Walton County, FL - Home Page

www.mywaltonfl.gov

Do not be scared. Be prepared and plan accordingly.

We post information from various sources about storms to help locals, 2nd homeowners and visitors, as we have done for many tropical events since 2003.

As of now it appears SoWal will be spared major effects. I am really worried about folks in Tallahassee and nearby areas. Especially along the coastal big bend area where storm surge of 20 feet is expected. That is major, similar to Katrina, and will bring water for miles inland.

 

[UpNorth]

I don’t think anyone here is guilty of anything nefarious, but nationally, it’s disgraceful how the media is regularly messing with people’s emotional state in exchange for clicks.