(WPDE) — Hurricane Helen update Wednesday 5 p.m.
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for several counties in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee, including Marlboro, Florence, Dillon, Marion, Horry and Georgetown counties. The entire state of South Carolina is currently under a Tropical Storm Warning.
Scotland, Robeson and Columbus counties are not currently under any warnings.
Hurricane Helen is strengthening and gaining strength. In fact, it will become a Category 4 hurricane, with tropical storm winds for hundreds of miles from the center. Again, the forecast models are in very good agreement today, with the hurricane making landfall in Big Bend, Florida, sometime Thursday evening or night.
Helen is large and fast moving, so it will have major effects far inland.
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After landfall, a large upper-level low pressure system will push Helene northward before moving northwestward across Georgia and western South Carolina.
Here is a breakdown of the potential impacts for our region and across the Carolinas:
timing
Most of the impacts will occur Thursday night into Friday morning, with conditions expected to improve rapidly in our area by Friday afternoon.
rain
Tropical moisture will be drawn north and into the Carolinas. Scattered rain will occur mainly Thursday afternoon and evening. Rain is more likely Thursday night, but widespread rain and storms will move in between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday, bringing heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches across the area.
The afternoon and evening will be clear with a slight chance of rain. Flooding risk appears low, but exercise caution Friday morning. Meanwhile, flash flooding will be a major concern tonight through Friday as rising air from the east side of the mountains could bring 6 to 12 inches of rain.
wind
Our area is far from the center of Helen, and we are currently expecting wind gusts of 30-40 mph mainly Friday morning, with occasional gusts of 45 mph possible.
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Winds will weaken by the afternoon and evening. Helene’s fast-forward motion will bring strong winds as it moves westward into upstate South Carolina and southwestern North Carolina, where maximum sustained wind speeds could reach 40 to 60 mph.
tornado
Due to wind shear and instability east of Helen, a lower tornado risk is likely after 4 a.m. Friday. As Helen moves north, the tornado risk will decrease before noon.
Be aware of the weather: tropical tornadoes can occur quickly and with little to no warning.
Coast
Persistent onshore winds could cause minor coastal flooding during high tides on Thursday and Friday.
Overall, this isn’t a big deal for us at all, but it’s a huge deal for Western Carolina.
We will be updating this blog and future blogs multiple times each day until the storm is no longer a concern, so please check back frequently.
