Tropical Storm Helene Advisory Number 8
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024
400 AM CDT Wed Sep 25 2024
...HELENE STRENGTHENING AS THE CENTER APPROACHES THE NORTHEASTERN
COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA...
...NEW TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PORTIONS OF THE
UNITED STATES...
SUMMARY OF 400 AM CDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...20.7N 86.2W
ABOUT 45 MI...75 KM ENE OF COZUMEL MEXICO
ABOUT 120 MI...190 KM SW OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 325 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...985 MB...29.09 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the Upper Florida
Keys from the Channel 5 Bridge to Ocean Reef and for the southern
Florida Peninsula east of Flamingo to the Palm Beach/Martin County
line.
A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the northeast coast
of Florida north of the Flagler/Volusia line to the mouth of the
St. Mary's River.
A Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect for the South Carolina
coast north of the Savannah River to the South Santee River.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Indian Pass southward to Flamingo
* Tampa Bay
* Charlotte Harbor
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida
* Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico including Cozumel
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
* Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Dry Tortugas
* All of the Florida Keys
* The Florida west coast from Flamingo to Anclote River, including
Tampa Bay
* West of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County Line
* The Florida east coast from Flamingo northward to the mouth of
the St. Mary's River
* Lake Okeechobee
* Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche, Mexico
* Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* The Georgia and South Carolina coast north of the mouth
of the St. Mary's River to the South Santee River
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons
located within these areas should take all necessary actions to
protect life and property from rising water and the potential for
other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other
instructions from local officials.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued
36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of
tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside
preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life
and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 36 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area.
Additional watches or warnings may be required for portions of
Florida and the southeastern United States later today.
For storm information specific to your area in the United
States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please
monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service
forecast office. For storm information specific to your area
outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by
your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 400 AM CDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Helene was
located near latitude 20.7 North, longitude 86.2 West. Helene is
moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h). This motion
should continue through this morning, followed by a general
northward motion beginning later today and continuing through
Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Helene will pass near
the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula this morning, move
across the eastern Gulf of Mexico on later today and Thursday, and
reach the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are now near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher
gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to become
a hurricane later today. The storm is forecast to rapidly
strengthen over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and become a major
hurricane on Thursday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km)
from the center. A Mexican Navy weather station at Isla Contoy
recently reported sustained winds of 38 mph (61 km/h) and a wind
gust of 48 mph (78 km/h).
The minimum central pressure recently reported by an Air Force
Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 985 mb (29.09 inches).