The center of Hurricane Helene officially made landfall in North Florida on Thursday night.  The center of Helene crossed the coast of Florida near the mouth of the Aucilla River west-southwest of Perry.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Helene was located at latitude 29.9°N and longitude 83.9°W which put the center about 40 miles (65 km) southeast of Tallahassee, Florida and about 10 miles (15 km) west-southwest of Perry.  Helene was moving toward the north-northeast at 24 m.p.h. (39 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 165 m.p.h. (265 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 938 mb.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Anclote River to Englewood, Florida.  The Hurricane Watch includes Tampa Bay.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Anclote River to Flamingo, Florida.  The Tropical Storm Warning includes Tampa Bay.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys west of Channel 5 Bridge.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Dry Tortugas.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line, Florida.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Flamingo, Florida to Little River Inlet, South Carolina.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Lake Okeechobee. 

Hurricane Helene intensified to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale before it made landfall on the coast of Florida.  A circular eye with a diameter of 32 miles (52 km) was at the center of Helene’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Helene. Storms near the center of Helene generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the hurricane. The removal of large quantities of mass was causing the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Hurricane Helene was large. Winds to hurricane force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Helene’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 310 miles (500 km) in the eastern side of Hurricane Helene.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the western side of Helene’s circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) is 28.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 21.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) 49.5.  Hurricane Helene is stronger than Hurricane Irma was when Irma hit southwest Florida in 2017.  However, Helene is not quite as big as Irma was.

Hurricane Helene will move around the eastern side of an upper level trough over the Mississippi River Valley.  The upper level trough will steer Helene quickly toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Helene will move across Georgia on Friday.

Hurricane Warnings are in effect for parts of northern Florida, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia.  The Hurricane Warnings include Tallahassee, Florida and Macon, Georgia.

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the Florida Peninsula, northwest Florida eastern Alabama, northern and eastern Georgia, all of South Carolina, southwestern North Carolina, and southeastern Tennessee.  The Tropical Storm Warnings include Atlanta, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina.

Hurricane Helene will weaken gradually as it moves farther inland.  Hurricane Helene will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Georgia on Friday.  Heavy rain will also fall over the southern Appalachians.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods.

Flood Watches are in effect for Florida, eastern Alabama, Georgia, western South Carolina, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Hurricane Helene will continue to cause a storm surge along the west coast of Florida during the next few hours.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Mexico Beach to Flamingo, Florida.  The Storm Surge Warning includes Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.