NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, PADUCAH UPDATE ON HELENE

NWS Paducah
Helene made landfall as a destructive category 4 hurricane last night and is now tracking through Georgia. It is moving slightly faster than originally forecast, which reduces rainfall amounts very slightly and increases our wind risk for today. 

We think it will be quite windy everywhere by late this morning, peaking later this afternoon. Gusts of 45 to 55 mph will be possible everywhere. Northeastern parts of our area, which are outlined in black on the second slide of the DSS packet, may see an evolution where even higher gusts are possible. With the ground slowly saturating from rainfall there is a risk of some trees uprooting and powerline damage. There is also risk of flooding and a flood watch is in effect for much of the quad-state as well with several inches of rain expected. Our drought conditions may help make the flood risk a little lower but we will need to remain alert.

A large upper level storm system is interacting with the remnants of Helene in a somewhat unusual way so we are on alert for needs to make adjustments to the forecast, particularly with regard to where areas of locally stronger wind or rain may set up later today. Please give us a call if you have any questions.

-Justin Gibbs
NWS Paducah