Hurricane Helene updates: Metro Atlanta, north GA under Tropical Storm Watch

ATLANTA — Here’s what you need to know: * Tropical Storm Helene strengthened into Hurricane Helene, a Category 1 storm with winds of 80 miles per hour, on Wednesday morning. * All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia are now under a Tropical Storm Watch. * Governor Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday in anticipation of Tropical Storm Helene. President Joe Biden approved a “major disaster declaration” for FEMA to assist Georgia. * The Georgia Emergency Management Association is encouraging everyone to have a plan and stay up to date through official weather updates.

* Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to make landfall as a major storm on Florida’s Big Bend late Thursday. It will then move across Georgia and into metro Atlanta late Thursday night and into Friday morning. * Heavy rain, strong winds likely including tropical storm force wind gusts are expected. Down trees and power outages are likely. Sustained winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour are likely with gusts of 40 miles per hour and as high as 55 miles per hour are possible.

* There is a risk of a brief, spin-up tornado along and east of the track of Helene. * All of metro Atlanta and north Georgia is under a Flood Watch until Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service is warning that rivers, creeks and other flood-prone locations may see flooding. They are forecasting between four and eight inches of rain. **Severe Weather Team 2** is monitoring Tropical Storm Helene around the clock and making sure you have the latest information to keep you and your family safe.