Hourly NWS reports on Helene

[nitpicked]

(At least for a while)

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT4+shtml/261955.shtml

Hurricane Helene Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
400 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

...HELENE ACCELERATING TOWARD THE FLORIDA BIG BEND...
...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OCCURING ACROSS MOST OF THE WEST
COAST OF FLORIDA...

Data from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the
minimum pressure of Helene has decreased to 951 mb (28.08 inches).

A Weatherflow station at Egmont Channel at the entrance to Tampa Bay
recently measured a sustained wind of 54 mph (87 km/h) and a gust to
68 mph (109 km/h).

The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport recently measured a
sustained wind of 43 mph (69 km/h) and a gust to 63 mph (101 km/h).

SUMMARY OF 400 PM EDT...2000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...27.3N 84.7W
ABOUT 145 MI...235 KM WSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 165 MI...265 KM S OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 21 MPH...33 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.08 INCHES

[ananda]

1. It looks like the strength is plateauing at 120 mph.

Wow

[NewHendoLib]

3. Still time to strengthen. Cat 4 is predicted

[SheltieLover]

4. OMG, NHL!

Stay safe!

[Tickle]

2. This is good, right?

My brother is in Hernando county and for the first time since he's gone through these hurricanes, he's nervous. That makes me worried 🙁

[ornotna]

5. If he's on the coast

He should be worried. If he's inland, a little better.

[Tickle]

16. I no longer have communication

with my brother. Anybody know what is going on in the Hernando county portion of Florida? I'm nervous

[mitch96]

10. Run from the water, hide from the wind...nt

[nitpicked]

6. 5 pm- wind up a bit

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/262042.shtml

Hurricane Helene Advisory Number 14
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
500 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

...HELENE IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND LARGE MAJOR HURRICANE...
...DAMAGING HURRICANE WINDS AND CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE
EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE FLORIDA BIG BEND THIS EVENING...


SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...27.9N 84.6W
ABOUT 130 MI...205 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 175 MI...280 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH...205 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...951 MB...28.09 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None

[hatrack]

7. 5 mph windspeed gain in an hour

Not good.

[nitpicked]

8. 5 pm discussion snips (bolding mine)

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/262043.shtml

Hurricane Helene Discussion Number 14
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
500 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

Helene has rapidly intensified today while nearing landfall in the
Florida Big Bend. Doppler radar and aircraft data indicate that the
eyewall is now completely closed and the eye has become more
circular and is clearing out. The aircraft data also indicated
that the inner core has contracted significantly today while the
tropical-storm-force winds have expanded. Based on all of the data,
the initial intensity is set at 110 kt. The latest minimum pressure
based on the aircraft data is around 951 mb. Tropical-storm-force
winds are occurring across portions of west-central and southwestern
Florida, and conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly in the
hurricane warning area during the next several hours. It should be
emphasized that Helene is at the upper bound of hurricanes in
terms of storm size and impacts are and will occur well away
from the center.

The large hurricane is now accelerating north-northeastward, with
the latest initial motion estimated to be 025/20 kt. This general
motion is expected to continue, taking the core of the major
hurricane to the Florida Big Bend later this evening. After
landfall, a turn to the north over Georgia is expected late tonight
and early Friday, followed by a slowdown or a complete stall over
the Tennessee Valley late Friday and Saturday when Helene merges
with a mid- to upper-level low.

The hurricane has intensified by 30 kt since sunrise and given the
conducive environmental conditions and contracting inner core, it
seems likely that Helene will be at or very near category 4 strength
when it makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend this evening.
The fast forward speed when Helene moves inland will result in a
far inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the
southeastern United States, including strong gusts over the higher
terrain of the southern Appalachians. Accordingly, a
higher-than-normal gust factor is indicated in the official forecast
while Helene is inland.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. A catastrophic and deadly storm surge will occur along portions
of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high
as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves. If
you live in this area and were told to evacuate by local officials,
your opportunity to do so is almost over. There is also a danger
of life-threatening storm surge along the remainder of the west
coast of the Florida Peninsula.

2. Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected
within the eyewall of Helene and will spread inland over portions
of northern Florida and southern Georgia when Helene makes landfall
in the Florida Big Bend region this evening. Persons in these
areas should be prepared to take shelter in the interior portion of
a well-built structure and remain sheltered until after hazardous
conditions pass. You may need to remain sheltered after the storm
due to downed trees and power lines, as well as flooding, in the
area.

3. Damaging wind gusts will penetrate well inland over portions of
Georgia and the Carolinas tonight, particularly over the higher
terrain of the southern Appalachians. Residents in these areas
should be prepared for the possibility of long-duration power
outages. 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.

4. Catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding,
including numerous significant landslides, is expected across
portions of the southern Appalachians through Friday. Considerable
to locally catastrophic flash and urban flooding is likely for
northwestern and northern Florida and the Southeast through Friday.
Widespread significant river flooding and isolated major river
flooding are likely.

[kozar]

9. If you are watching the Weather channel,

We are 47 miles east of Cedar Key, luckily not near any body of water and drainage is good here. We didn't have any problems with Debbie, hardly even any puddling. So we are hopeful.
We have a very tight knit community and have touched all our bases, and I'm sure as with Debbie, we will all be in touch via texts through the night.

Koz

[mitch96]

11. I'm just west of Tampa/Clearwater and I just lost internets. Electric flashing on and off

Wind and rain coming up but nothing to write home about.
We will see what happens, eh?
I'm using my hotspot on the phone to get internet...Sure does help..
m

[onethatcares]

12. I'm mid st pete.

got winds so far, nothing to worry about except for my neighbors tree branches falling on my roof. Hoping it stays that way.

[mitch96]

19. Are you ok? I heard St Pete got whacked by water...nt

[onethatcares]

20. we are above the waterline

and the damage we got is mainly trees and branches on the roof except for a 30 - 40 ft tall jacaranda that fell across our ave and knocked out the power on the block. My neighbors luv me as the power is still out and our generator is running.

advice to those that need it: buy a generator and two 12 gage 50 ft extension cords. You can run an air fryer, a coffee maker, your refrig and freezer, and some lights if you get a couple of those 3 way extensions. Worked properly you can even get a fan to move air hooked up to them.

We're ok, just waiting on duke energy to fix the wir and move the branches off the street. I'm not going near a broken feeder wire no matter what.

and

Thanx for asking

[mitch96]

21. I just got power back after a day and a half...AC is a wonderful thing. Lost a bunch of frozen fish...oh well..nt

[nitpicked]

13. 6 pm no major change

Hurricane Helene Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
600 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

...HELENE CONTINUES HEADING FOR THE FLORIDA BIG BEND...
...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS SPREADING NORTHWARD ALONG THE WEST
COAST OF FLORIDA...

A slightly elevated Weatherflow station at the Skyway Fishing Pier
near the entrance to Tampa Bay recently measured a sustained wind
of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a gust to 69 mph (111 km/h).

SUMMARY OF 600 PM EDT...2200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.0N 84.5W
ABOUT 115 MI...185 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 210 MI...335 KM SW OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 21 MPH...33 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...950 MB...28.05 INCHES

[nitpicked]

14. oops, hurricane hunters found a Cat 4

Hurricane Helene Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
620 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

...HELENE NOW AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE...

A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft currently investigating Helene
recently found that the maximum sustained winds have increased to
130 mph (215 km/h). The minimum central pressure has also decreased
to 947 mb (27.96 inches) based on dropsonde data.

SUMMARY OF 620 PM EDT...2220 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.0N 84.5W
ABOUT 120 MI...195 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 165 MI...265 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...215 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...947 MB...27.96 INCHES

[nitpicked]

15. 7 pm no real change

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT4+shtml/262259.shtml

Hurricane Helene Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
700 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HELENE HEADING TOWARDS THE
FLORIDA BIG BEND...
...700 PM EDT POSITION UPDATE...

A Weatherflow station at Egmont Channel near the entrance of Tampa
Bay recently reported a sustained wind of 54 mph (87 km/h) and
a wind gust of 71 mph (115 km/h).

Tropical storm conditions are approaching the coastline of
Florida's Big Bend. A Weatherflow station at St. George Island
recently reported a wind gust of 46 mph (74 km/h).

SUMMARY OF 700 PM EDT...2300 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.3N 84.4W
ABOUT 110 MI...175 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA
ABOUT 145 MI...235 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...215 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...945 MB...27.91 INCHES

[nitpicked]

17. 8 pm advisory- landfall by midnight??

Hurricane Helene Intermediate Advisory Number 14A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
800 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE HELENE NEARING THE NORTHEAST
GULF COAST...
...CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE AND LIFE-THREATENING WINDS EXPECTED IN
THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AREA...

SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.7N 84.3W
ABOUT 80 MI...125 KM WSW OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA
ABOUT 115 MI...190 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...215 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...942 MB...27.82 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None
(snip)

Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher
gusts. Helene is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible
before the center reaches the coast in a few hours. Weakening is
expected after Helene moves inland, but the fast forward speed will
allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well
inland across the southeastern United States, including over the
higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310
miles (500 km). Albert Whitted airport in St. Petersburg, Florida
reported a sustained wind of 53 mph (85 km/h) with a gust to 76 mph
(122 km/h).
(snip)

[nitpicked]

18. 9 pm Helene- one last uptick?

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT4+shtml/270056.shtml

Hurricane Helene Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
900 PM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

...HELENE SLIGHTLY STRONGER AS ITS EYE APPROACHES THE COAST OF THE
FLORIDA BIG BEND...
...900 PM EDT POSITION UPDATE...

A University of Florida Coastal Monitoring Program tower located on
Cedar Key recently reported a sustained wind of 55 mph (89 km/h) and
a wind gust of 73 mph (117 km/h).

A NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge located at Clearwater Beach
recently reported a water level of 5.07 feet above mean higher high
water, which is an approximation of inundation in that area.

SUMMARY OF 900 PM EDT...0100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...29.1N 84.2W
ABOUT 65 MI...105 KM W OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA
ABOUT 90 MI...145 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...140 MPH...225 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 24 MPH...39 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...941 MB...27.79 INCHES