Tracking Hurricane Helene’s 800-mile trail of devastation across the southeastern US
Since making landfall on Thursday, Hurricane Helene has caused extensive devastation along the Florida coast, resulting in historic flooding, widespread power outages, and significant damage over an 800-mile stretch affecting the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and beyond.
The Category 4 hurricane has been linked to more than 60 fatalities in the southeastern U.S., with nearly 3 million homes and businesses currently experiencing power outages.
In North Carolina, heavy rainfall has led to severe flooding in cities like Asheville, stranding residents without electricity or food. Rescue efforts are hampered by submerged roads, according to YSL News.
YSL News has been monitoring Helene’s trail of destruction through the southern United States. Here are the key details:
Helene’s path from Florida to the northern states
Thursday, Sept. 26
Florida
Helene made landfall at 11:10 p.m. near Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 140 mph and an extensive field of hurricane and tropical storm winds.
Friday, Sept. 27
Georgia
As Helene entered Georgia early Friday, it was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, maintaining wind speeds of up to 100 mph, leading to rising rivers particularly in Atlanta.
Tennessee
Late Friday, the Tennessee Valley Authority alerted that the Nolichucky Dam in Greene County faced the risk of breach due to cresting waters. By Saturday afternoon, the dam was reported as “stable and secure.”
Approximately 45 individuals were rescued from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital, located around 120 miles northeast of Knoxville, after floodwaters surrounded the facility on Friday.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Florida
North Carolina
Severe flooding from the Broad River has destroyed buildings and bridges in Chimney Rock, a town close to Chimney Rock State Park.
According to the state Department of Transportation, over 400 roads in North Carolina are closed, and multiple segments of I-40 and I-26 are impassable.
South Carolina
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg described flooding and wind damage as “the worst event in our office’s history” on their Facebook page.
The factors behind Helene’s destruction
Forecasters had warned that a mix of weather systems would lead to significant rainfall in the region. A front in the atmosphere was expected to interact with a moisture plume brought in by Helene, according to YSL News.
Here are some specifics regarding Hurricane Helene:
- Size: It was notably large, measuring around 350 miles in width.
- Strength: At landfall, winds reached 140 mph, causing extensive storm surge.
- Heavy rains: In the mountainous regions of North Carolina, rainfall totals were 29.6 inches at Busick and 24.2 inches at Mount Mitchell.
- Speed: Helene was moving at speeds of up to 24 mph offshore and 30 mph on land.
Total fatalities reported in five states reach at least 63
South Carolina has reported the highest number of deaths:
- South Carolina: 23
- Georgia: 17
- Florida: 12
- North Carolina: 10
- Virginia: 1