ATLANTA – As Florida braces for Hurricane Helene, the size of the storm means widespread impacts will be felt across the eastern U.S. later this week, including damaging winds, flooding rains and possible tornadoes in states far to the southeastern, mid-Atlantic and in the Midwest after Landfall.

Regarding its current development, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall along the Florida Big Bend on Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of at least 130 miles per hour. After landfall, Helene is expected to slow and turn northwestward, moving over the southeast through Friday and Saturday.

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TRACKING HELENE: LIVE FORECAST CONES, SPAGHETTI MODELS, WARNINGS, WIND PROJECTIONS AND MORE

The major storm will bring widespread heavy rain, damaging winds and possible tornadoes to cities in the Southeast, including Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina. In anticipation of these impacts, the governors of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have declared states of emergency.

Helene wind forecast for the southeast.
(FOX Weather)

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A tropical storm warning is in effect for Atlanta, meaning tropical storm conditions could develop just hours after Helene makes landfall.

Tropical storm-force winds will be felt as early as Thursday in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast through Saturday, with peak gusts up to hurricane force in parts of Georgia and South Carolina. Helene is expected to move northwest into Kentucky and Tennessee, bringing gusty winds up to 70 miles per hour.

The NHC also warns that one or two tornadoes could occur in parts of the western Florida Peninsula and southern Alabama on Wednesday. The threat of tornadoes will increase Thursday, spreading throughout Florida and parts of Georgia and South Carolina.

Significant to catastrophic flooding is possible this weekend

The biggest impact for Helene after landfall will be the forecast rainfall amounts in several states from Georgia to Kentucky and Virginia, as Helene takes advantage of available moisture in the Southeast and pushes toward the Appalachian Mountains.

“This will be one of the most significant weather events to occur in the western portions of the area in modern times,” the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, said Thursday.

Meteorologists expect catastrophic flooding and landslides from Hurricane Helene, particularly near the mountains and foothills of the Carolinas.

Available Moisture in the Appalachian Mountains.
(FOX Weather)

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The NHC warns for total rain accumulations of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated amounts near 15 inches. Cities like Atlanta and Augusta in Georgia and Knoxville and Chattanooga in Tennessee are among those most at risk of flash flooding over the next five days.

“Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and urban flooding, including landslides, are expected in portions of the southern Appalachians through Friday,” NHC forecasters wrote in a discussion of Helene. “Significant to locally catastrophic flash flooding and urban flooding are expected in northwest and northern Florida and the southeast through Friday. Widespread minor to moderate river flooding is likely and isolated major river flooding is possible.”

Predict rainfall amounts.
(FOX Weather)

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National Weather Service offices throughout the Southeast, including Greenville, South Carolina, are issuing flood warnings to warn residents of potentially catastrophic flooding. Ahead of the rainfall in Helene, the region is expected to receive several centimeters of rain from thunderstorms.

Flash flood outlook for Thursday.
(FOX Weather)

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Prepare for travel delays

Travelers should also prepare for weekend delays. Atlanta International Airport is warning air travelers that the impact could impact the entire Southeast.

FLIGHT DISRUCTIONS impact ATLANTA and TAMPA as Hurricane Helene threatens