Tropical Storm Helene is expected to transform into a major hurricane by the time it makes landfall/National Hurricane Center
As Tropical Storm Helene continues its northward trajectory through the Gulf of Mexico, gaining strength along the way, some units of the National Park System already are planning to close before the storm hits.
Helene is shaping up to be a potent storm, too, with predictions of it turning into a major hurricane with wind speeds above 110 mph and possibly bringing as much as 8 inches or more of rain in some areas.
Already Fort Pulaski National Monument, despite its location on the Georgia coast to the east of the main storm track, has announced plans to close Wednesday at noon. Fort Frederica National Monument on the coast of Florida plans to close Thursday “due to predicted rainfall, winds, increased chance of tornadoes and flooding conditions from this storm,” while Cumberland Island National Seashore along the Georgia coast was closing Tuesday.
“A mandatory evacuation is in place,” the park staff at Cumberland Island said. “All campers, visitors, staff, and volunteers must depart the island on the 2:45 p.m. or 4:45 p.m. boats on Tuesday, September 24. The last boat departing the island is at 4:45 p.m. from the Sea Camp dock.”
Other parks that could potentially close include Gulf Islands National Seashore on the Mississippi-Florida coast and Dry Tortugas National Park south of the Florida Keys. How much fury the storm carries as it moves north into the Appalachians could lead to more park closings.
The forecasters at Accuweather were predicting a huge hurricane that could pack winds up to 160 mph in core areas and dump more than a foot of rain.
“This is expected to be a large hurricane with a major storm surge threat and impacts that will reach hundreds of miles inland from where this storm makes landfall,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. “We expect significant flooding problems that could reach as far inland as Atlanta and potentially a secondary area of significant flooding in the southern Appalachians.”
The company added that “[H]eavy rain can lead to widespread flooding near the center of the storm track, which can cause extensive flooding and standing water for days. … Travel delays and impacts are expected in the region. AccuWeather is forecasting 500 flight cancellations on Thursday and 1,000 flight cancellations on Friday. Flooding impacts could reach as far inland as the Ohio River Valley.”
The storm also could spawn tornadoes across most of Florida, throughout Georgia, and in parts of Alabama and South Carolina.
