MACON, Ga. — The 13WMAZ weather team has issued a weather impact alert day for all day Thursday, overnight into Friday morning, as Hurricane Helene will approach the southeast. As of Wednesday afternoon, Helene is forecasted to intensify into a major hurricane of Category 4 status upon landfall and still be a Category 2 hurricane by the time it reaches central Georgia. Around 5 a.m., the Hurricane has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm.
Here's what you need to know
Even with a few tornado warning throughout the day, most of the impacts will start later tonight and should last the entire overnight. Impacts will be greatest near the eyewall.
When:
The Weather Impact Alert was in place all day yesterday, and continues overnight tonight into this morning, as hurricane force conditions will be present in heavier bands of rain closer to the eye of Helene. This is where the gustiest wind speeds will be and also the most severe weather potential east of the center of circulation. Rain will move out of central Georgia by 9 a.m.
Impact:
The one thing that we will see gusty winds and heavy rain here in central Georgia. The severity of these impacts (wind gust speeds, flood risk, and possible severe weather) is still up in the air all depending on what side of the storm we are on. The east side, or the "dirty side", of the storm would pose a risk severe thunderstorms and the possibility of spin-up tornadoes, as opposed to the west side which is the calmer side. The Storm Prediction Center has gone ahead an issued a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather for much of our southeastern half already on Thursday. A Level 2 risk is in play for southeast central Georgia, our farthest southeast counties. This Level 2 is where greater confidence is of severe weather and the possibility of spin-up tornadoes.
Most of Central Georgia is under a Hurricane Warning meaning that winds will exceed 74 mph. The rest of Georgia is under a Tropical storm Warning, which has winds ranging from 39 to 73 mph
Need:
Be weather-aware throughout the second half of the work week and look for further updates on our 13WMAZ mobile app. The forecast still remains rather fluid, so staying up to date as we get up will be crucial to going about your day.
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