Hours after Helene made landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast, the system was downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved away from the extremely warm Gulf of Mexico allowing it to grow into a major hurricane.
Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane about 10 miles from Perry, Florida, late Thursday. At the time, it had top sustained winds of 140 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended 60 miles from its center, while tropical storm-force winds extended up to 310 miles from the center.
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As of late Friday afternoon, the tropical depression was still producing "life-threatening flash and urban flooding" through the Southern Appalachians. Damaging wind gust were also expected to continue in parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky
Helene should continue to weaken by the end of Friday, while still producing rain over the Ohio Valley. The rain could actually be helpful there as much of the region has been under a severe drought.
According to Poweroutage.us, over 5 million customers were without power as of Friday afternoon.
"If you use a generator after the storm, be sure it is placed outside at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and garages to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning," the National Weather Service stated.
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