Tropical Cyclone Statement Issued
From
City of Lake Helen
Sent
Thu, Sep 26 @ 11:55pm
Description
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 26 at 11:42PM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
HLSMLB
This product covers East Central Florida
**MAJOR HURRICANE HELENE HAS MADE LANDFALL IN THE FLORIDA BIG BEND**
**TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CONTINUING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA
INTO TONIGHT**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- None
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Indian River,
Coastal Martin, Coastal Saint Lucie, Coastal Volusia, Inland
Indian River, Inland Martin, Inland Northern Brevard, Inland
Saint Lucie, Inland Southern Brevard, Inland Volusia, Mainland
Northern Brevard, Mainland Southern Brevard, Northern Brevard
Barrier Islands, Northern Lake, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola,
Seminole, Southern Brevard Barrier Islands, and Southern Lake
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 140 miles west-northwest of Leesburg FL
- 29.9N 83.9W
- Storm Intensity 140 mph
- Movement North-northeast or 15 degrees at 24 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Hurricane Helene has made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region
as a major Category 4 hurricane around 11:10 PM EDT with maximum
sustained winds of 140 mph. Helene will continue to move north into
southern Georgia through Friday morning and toward north Georgia by
Friday evening.
Hurricane Helene has an expansive wind field which will shift only
slowly northward through late tonight. Rainbands southeast of the
center will continue to affect east central Florida through tonight.
A peak wind gust to 67 mph was recorded at Orlando International
Airport at 930 PM.
Very strong wind gusts will be associated with these showers and some
gusts up to 55 to 65 mph will be possible from Osceola and Brevard
County northward through 3 AM. Wind gusts later tonight may still reach
the 45 to 55 mph range across northern portions of east central Florida
after 3 AM as Helene pulls farther away from the area.
Residents and visitors should use extreme caution on roadways if you
must travel as the wind can blow objects that may strike your vehicle.
Isolated instances of tree limbs and power lines falling are possible
with these stronger wind gusts through around 3 AM.
In addition to strong wind gusts, a few tornadoes embedded in rain
bands are possible through from Osceola and Brevard counties northward
overnight. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 6 AM for these
areas.
Locally higher rainfall amounts up to one to one and a half inches are
forecast across mainly northern portions of east central Florida
through the overnight hours. A Flood Watch remains in effect across
all of east central Florida through early morning Friday.
Along the coast, battering surf through tonight will cause dangerous
beach conditions. Wave run-up to the dune line and sea walls will
result in some beach erosion. Marine conditions are dangerous and
small craft operators should remain in port.
Visitors and residents should stay off the beaches through tonight.
Additionally, numerous life-threatening rip currents and a powerful
longshore current will exist. A High Surf Advisory is in effect at
area beaches and will continue through 11 AM Friday.
Conditions will not be conducive for outdoor activities or travel
through the overnight hours. Do not let your guard down. This is a
very large storm and impacts are being experienced far from the center
of the storm.
Be sure to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. Continue to
monitor the latest forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and
National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across
East Central Florida. Remain well sheltered from hazardous wind
having possible limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
- Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored
mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
- Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or
uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are
shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.
- A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban
or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on
bridges and other elevated roadways.
- Scattered power and communications outages.
* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across East
Central Florida. Remain well braced against a dangerous tornado event
having possible significant impacts. If realized, these impacts
include:
- The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots
of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
- Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or
uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about.
Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect through 6 AM EDT for Lake, Volusia,
Seminole, Orange, Brevard and Osceola counties.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Remain well guarded against dangerous flood waters having possible
impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
- Flood waters may lead to rapid ponding of water across
low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Several storm drains
and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow.
Some brief road closures.
* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:
Strong winds and battering surf through tonight will produce wave
run-up to the dune line and sea walls, resulting in minor beach
erosion. This will also lead to numerous life-threatening rip currents
and a powerful longshore current at area beaches. A High Surf Advisory
is in effect through Friday morning for these hazardous surf conditions.
Visitors and residents should stay off the beaches and out of the surf
today into tonight!
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to stay inside and away from windows. Listen for
updates and be ready in case you lose electrical power. Keep a
battery-powered radio, charged cell phone and flashlight handy.
If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in
which you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which
it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay
attention for instructions from local authorities.
Do not be a thrill seeker or risk your life for senseless photos or
videos.
If a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the
safest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body. If
driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options.
Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets
for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes
to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather
warnings.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
-----------
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Melbourne FL around 6 AM EDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.
This notification was posted by City of Lake Helen. City of Lake Helen is solely responsible for this notification and unless specifically indicated, no other community or individual utilizing Savvy Citizen is sponsoring, responsible for, or endorsing this notification.
