NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Hurricane Helene is gaining strength as it enters the warm Gulf of Mexico waters from the Northern Caribbean Sea. Starting Thursday afternoon, rain associated with this system will impact Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky with potential rain amounts through Sunday of two to four inches or higher.
As it enters the Gulf of Mexico, it will hit Cuba with strong winds, storm surge and the chance for mudslides. It will quickly intensify as the low-pressure system enters the warm Gulf water.
Florida is already preparing for Helene. There is a hurricane warning in effect for the big bend of Florida, with tropical storm watches into southern Georgia and southwest South Carolina. The National Hurricane Center has forecasted storm surge levels to be one to three feet at the Florida Keys, five to eight feet at Tampa Bay, and 15-20 feet from the Ochlockonee River, Fla. to Chassahowitzka, Fla.
The 10 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center has Helene as a 85 mph category one hurricane, with higher gusts. With the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Helene will become a major hurricane by Thursday morning before landfall. This means the hurricane would be a category four with winds 130+ mph. Landfall will be on Thursday evening and night.
Locally, the remnants and center of low pressure could pass to the east of Middle Tennessee, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds. For now, models are bringing the low-pressure system into the already existing low pressure that will be spinning over Middle Tennessee leading to higher rain chances.
Heavy rainfall is becoming more likely! From Thursday to Saturday morning, our area is under a Slight Risk (level 2 out of 5) for excessive rainfall.
Rain will arrive by Thursday afternoon and evening, becoming widespread and heavy overnight Thursday into the day Friday.
As the rain increases, the wind gusts will increase too. Gusts 30 to 50 mph are possible, with the highest gusts likely in the eastern areas. This could lead to power outages.
More rain continues Saturday and Sunday, but decreasing into early next week. Rain totals have a good chance of exceeding 2 inches of rainfall, with a high probability of some spots over 4 inches, especially east of I-65.
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