Florida is very exciting tonight.

[Chum]

I've stopped by to share. We're on the gulf coast, about 10 mi inland and not at serious risk from Helene. It's closest approach to us was about an hour ago and it'll make landfall about an hour from now. It's at 140mph (forecast 115mph this morning) and still growing. The winds here are still increasing, which is unusual. They're the highest I've seen since Ida. Things are getting shook up and there will be lots of debris around for rush hour.

Folks near the coast are getting flooded for the 3rd time in two years (2nd time this year). It's low tide but the winds are higher than expected. I think the 10'-20' surge forecasts will wind up being right on.

I'm not sure what to expect near landfall. Conditions will be catastrophic but some of that coast is forest land. Some of the populated area hasn't had a chance to rebuild since Idelia so that'll limit losses a bit. It's moving fast and will still be a cat 3 inland and a cat 2 in GA. After that it'll dump rain from MO to Appalachia. The latter is already flooded. "Historic" is getting tossed around in their news reports.

I expect our winds to level out soon and start to diminish in an hour or so. I'm fine with Helene being in a hurry.

[blackstrap]

As a comedian once said, it is not THAT the wind is blowing, it is WHAT the wind is blowing. 

[MustardSeed]

I hope you fared well.  I have family and friends who flooded and lost roofs - 3rd or 4the destructive storm this year alone for my friends on the Suwanee in Jasper. 

[Rain]

Looking at all the destruction and hoping you are ok.