Florida and the southeast of the United States are bracing for Hurricane Helene, a weather system that has already prompted coastal evacuations and that some expect to be a Category 3 event by the time it reaches landfall on this afternoon.
Although Helene will not be the first to hit the US this year, after three others already in 2024, it is anticipated to be the most powerful yet, as well as, according to hurricane expert Michael Lowry reported by CNN, one of the largest storms in the Gulf of Mexico over the last century. It has been gathering strength considerably due to extremely warm water conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. More frequent, more intense storms are recognised to be a result of warming Earth’s atmosphere with fossil fuel emissions.
The outlook
From as early as Wednesday afternoon, rain and gusts of tropical-storm-force winds were forecast for Florida Keys and predicted to spread north and east, lasting until at least Thursday evening in Florida and well into Friday as far away as Georgia.
Taylor County sheriff’s office, on Florida’s Big Bend, where some of the worst effects of the storm are expected, has warned, “This system will be unlike anything we have experienced to date,” with widespread storm surges on their way that could hit heights of 15 inches (38 cm) rainfall in places.
The danger is such that mandatory evacuations have been ordered in at over 20 coastal Florida counties at the time of writing.
Video showing #HurricaneHelene hit #Mexico as a tropical storm Wednesday morning. #Helene has rapidly intensified into a #Hurricane as it plows towards #Florida, expecting to make landfall as the strongest hurricane to hit the US in over a year. pic.twitter.com/OJQLvA8e1s
— CrazyFuckingVideos (@CrazyFuckingVid) September 26, 2024
Flood alerts and tornadoes warnings
The Weather Prediction Center warned on Wednesday of “widespread impactful flooding” including “potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding,” with warnings in Tampa and much of South Florida, including mountainous areas away from the coast.
Atlanta will see high winds and joins Alabama and the Carolinas under a level 3 of 4 warning for rainfall floods issued for Thursday that covers parts of Florida and Georgia. Moving into Friday, Georgia’s northeast to the far west Carolinas could witness over 30 cm of rain on Friday, and an unusual level 4 of 4 high risk warning is in place. Tennessee is expected to receive up to 40 cm of rainfall.
Tornadoes too are on the cards, with a risk of them arising anywhere in Florida, and a level 3 of 5 risk in southern Georgia, South Carolina and across the southeast USA.
Travel disruption
Flights to Cancun and Cozumel, Mexico, as well as dozens of US airports have been cancelled and delayed, with numerous airlines issuing travel waivers to affected customers allowing them to rebook flights without penalties. Ticket holders are urged to check their flight status and terms of waivers, which at the time of writing, USA Today has reported as follows:
Alaska Airlines
Flights to between 25 and 27 September may be rebooked no later than 30 September or credited for future travel for passengers flying through or to:
- Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
American Airlines
Flyers booked with American Airlines to, through, and from the following airports through 27 September can rebook without charge, for the same class and journey, for travel until 4 October:
- Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
- Cozumel, Mexico (CZM)
- Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB)
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida (VPS)
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL)
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Gainesville, Florida (GNV)
- Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM)
- Havana, Cuba (HAV)
- Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
- Key West, Florida (EYW)
- Melbourne, Florida (MLB)
- Miami, Florida (MIA)
- Mobile, Alabama (MOB)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Panama City, Florida (ECP)
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
- Santa Clara, Cuba (SNU)
- Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida (SRQ)
- Tallahassee, Florida (TLH)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
- Varadero, Cuba (VRA)
- West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI)
Breeze Airways
Travellers with Breeze flights between 25 September and 27 September may rebook within 14 days or cancel their flights for flight credit for free if they are flying to or through:
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- New Orleans, Louisiana (MSY)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida (SRQ)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
Delta Air Lines
Travellers with Delta flights scheduled to, through and from the following airports between 25 September and 27 September may rebook their flights for free until 4 October, with flight credits for up to a year:
- Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
- Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB)
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Fort Walton Beach, Florida (VPS)
- Havana, Cuba (HAV)
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (HHH)
- Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
- Key West, Florida (EYW)
- Mobile, Alabama (MOB)
- Panama City, Florida (ECP)
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
- Sarasota, Florida (SRQ)
- Tallahassee, Florida (TLH)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
- Valdosta, Georgia (VLD)
Frontier Airlines
Frontier passengers scheduled to, through and from the following airports may rebook without change fees, but fare differences may apply.
Flights scheduled through 25 September:
- Cancun, Mexico
Flights scheduled on 26 September or 27 September:
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
- Sarasota, Florida (SRQ)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue flights scheduled to or from the following airports between 26 September and 27 September may be refunded or rebooked for free, as long as the new flight is no later than 2 October:
- Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
- Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Sarasota, Florida (SRQ)
- Savannah, Georgia (SAV)
- Tallahassee, Florida (TLH)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
Southwest Airlines
Travellers with Southwest flights scheduled to, through and from the following airports may rebook travel or fly standby for free within 14 days of their original travel dates.
Flights scheduled through 25 September:
- Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
- Havana, Cuba (HAV)
Flights scheduled through 27 September:
- Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida (VPS)
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Panama City Beach, Florida (ECP)
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
- Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida (SRQ)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
Spirit Airlines
Spirit flights that may be rebooked without penalty if flown before 2 October are:
Flights scheduled through 25 September:
- Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
Flights scheduled between 25 September and 27 September:
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
United Airlines
Rebookable for free before 27 September, for travel before 4 October:
- Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
- Cozumel, Mexico (CZM)
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
- Havana, Cuba (HAV)
- Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
- Key West, Florida (EYW)
- Orlando, Florida (MCO)
- Panama City, Florida (ECP)
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
- Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida (SRQ)
- Tampa, Florida (TPA)
- Tulum, Mexico (TQO)
