Tropical Storm Helene caused extensive damage in Florida as it made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds. The storm brought significant storm surge flooding, downed trees, and flooding to the region. Helene continued to spread havoc across the Southeast, with reports of flash flooding in Georgia and the Carolinas.
As of Friday morning, Helene had weakened to a tropical storm with 60 mph winds and was located over Georgia. The storm was expected to continue to weaken as it moved towards the Tennessee Valley. While all tropical storm warnings were dropped for Alabama, the state was still expected to experience gusty winds and heavy rain, especially in the northern and eastern parts.
Areas in northeast Alabama could see up to 5 inches of rain in localized areas, leading to a flood watch until Saturday morning. The National Weather Service warned of the potential for flash flooding in central Alabama due to heavy rainfall.
In Alabama’s coastal areas, the main concern was a high risk of rip currents and rough surf. Wind advisories remained in effect statewide, with gusts as high as 40 mph expected in parts of north and east Alabama.
Overall, the extent of the damage from Helene in Alabama was still uncertain, but the storm was expected to continue to impact the region with heavy rain and strong winds.
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