Hurricane Helene’s ‘Nightmare’ Storm Surge ‘Unsurvivable,’ NWS Warns

As Hurricane Helene approaches Florida’s Big Bend coast, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a dire warning, calling the expected storm surge “unsurvivable.”
The rapidly intensifying storm is forecast to make landfall on Thursday evening as a Category 3 or stronger hurricane and evacuations have been ordered for several Florida counties.
A storm surge of up to 20 feet is predicted in areas surrounding Apalachee Bay, a scenario the Tallahassee NWS described as a “nightmare surge scenario” in a Wednesday night bulletin.
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“There is a danger of catastrophic and unsurvivable storm surge for Apalachee Bay,” the statement read.
The surge, combined with destructive waves, could inundate coastal communities and wash away buildings. Residents in evacuation zones are being urged to leave immediately.
To illustrate the danger, X (formerly Twitter) user @WxNB_ reposted a video of a massive Florida storm surge from 2022’s Hurricane Ian.
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Helene is currently located about 500 miles south-southwest of St. Marks, Florida, with 85 mph wind speeds.
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The storm is moving north at 9 mph but is expected to gain strength as it pushes towards land.
In addition to the life-threatening storm surge, widespread impacts are expected from Helene’s high winds and torrential rain.
Winds are forecast to cause widespread power outages and structural damage across the Big Bend and southern Georgia, with the storm’s fast forward speed meaning effects will penetrate far inland.
The NWS warns of the possibility of complete roof and wall failures in some areas, and the destruction of mobile homes.
The storm will also bring significant rainfall, with the potential for flash flooding across the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia.
While tornadoes are not the primary threat, the NWS has indicated that a few could develop along and to the east of Helene’s path.
Mandatory evacuations have already been issued for several counties along the Florida Gulf Coast, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) urging residents to heed these orders.
“Storm surge is the leading killer associated with tropical storms and hurricanes,” the NWS warned, stressing that even areas not directly hit by the center of the storm could still face life-threatening flooding.
Helene is expected to push inland after landfall, with impacts likely to spread across Alabama, Georgia, and even into Tennessee and Kentucky by the weekend.
Residents in these areas are also being urged to remain on alert as the storm could cause widespread damage and dangerous conditions far from the coast.
The next update from the NWS is expected at 6 a.m. central time on Thursday.