National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Overview

Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm late in the evening of September 26, 2024.  Helene's largest impacts were across the southern Appalachians where widespread severe and unprecedented flooding occurred with hundreds of fatalities and billions in property damage.  Strong wind gusts damaged property and blew trees and power lines down in a swath from the Gulf Coast to the North Carolina mountains.

Hurricane Helene satellite animation September 26-27, 2024

GOES-16 GeoColor satellite loop from September 26 to 27, 2024

showing Helene moving through the Southeast U.S.

 

 

Wind and Rainfall

Here across the eastern Carolinas, rain and winds were somewhat less of a concern given the larger distance from the storm's center.  Storm total rainfall ranged from less than an inch along the coast to over four inches inland.  Wind gusts peaked in the 45 to 60 mph range during the morning hours of September 27. 

 

Additional local rain and wind reports are available here:  Rainfall Summary   |   Wind Gust Summary

 

 

 

Tornadoes

Lines of thunderstorms well east of Helene's center produced six confirmed tornadoes across southeast NC and northeast SC on September 27. 

Map of tornadoes across southeastern NC and northeastern SC associated with Hurricane Helene: September 27, 2024

Map of tornadoes across southeastern NC and northeastern SC associated with Helene: September 27, 2024

 

Georgetown tornado details

Bay Road tornado details

Centenary tornado details

Garland tornado #1 details

Garland tornado #2 details

Hagley Landing tornado details

 

 

Tornado damage on the Bladen/Sampson County line along Helltown Road

Tornado damage near the Bladen/Sampson County line along Helltown Road.

Tornado damage on the Bladen/Sampson County line along Helltown Road

Tornado damage on the Bladen/Sampson County line on the Helltown Road bridge over the South River.

 

 

Additional Information