Tropical Storm Helene is approaching landfall in the United States and developing into a hurricane. Its track is becoming more precise, according to the National Weather Service. And the updated track shows that it is expected to bring severe weather to the Columbia, South Carolina area.
The effects of Helene are expected to be felt in the Midlands late Thursday and last through Friday, National Weather Service meteorologists said in a press conference Wednesday morning.
Heavy rains could lead to flooding, and the storm is expected to bring strong winds in the form of violent gusts and possibly tornadoes, the press conference said.
No warnings, watches or advisories have been issued, but that could change as the storm moves further inland and closer to South Carolina.
The storm could bring more than 3 inches of rain to Columbia, the National Weather Service said. In other areas, particularly in the western part of the Midlands, rainfall amounts could be locally higher.
Although there could be rain as early as Thursday afternoon and continue until Friday afternoon, the heaviest rainfall is expected to be on Thursday evening and overnight into Friday morning, according to the emergency statement.
The National Weather Service said the heavy rain could cause flash flooding and eventually river flooding over the weekend and into next week.
According to the report, the risk of tornadoes is also highest on Thursday night into Friday. The risk of tornadoes in the Midlands has increased slightly since the National Weather Service’s first Helene forecast on Tuesday.
Strong winds also pose a danger, as according to the situation report, strong gusts with speeds between 65 and 80 km/h are possible during the night from Thursday to Friday.
Tropical storm gusts could reach the Midlands as early as Thursday evening, but a slowdown is most likely during the night from Thursday to Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.
According to the press conference, there is a 90% chance that wind speeds of 45 mph will be measured in Columbia.
Strong winds and tornadoes could cause significant damage to trees and limbs, as well as to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. Vehicles would also be at risk in the event of a tornado.
Damage to trees and branches poses the risk of power lines falling and causing outages.
Helene is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane before making landfall near the Big Bend area of Florida, the National Weather Service said. After making landfall, Helene is expected to move rapidly northward inland and weaken to a tropical depression by Friday afternoon, the report said.
As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Tropical Storm Helene is moving northwest at about 9 mph, reaching maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and tropical storm-force winds extending up to 175 miles from the center, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Although the center of Tropical Storm Helene is not currently moving over the Columbia area, that doesn’t mean the Midlands won’t feel its effects. Because of Helene’s size, the effects of storm surge, wind and rain will extend well beyond the center, the National Hurricane Center said.
In Columbia, the weather is expected to clear up by Friday night, and sunny weather with highs of around 30 degrees is forecast for Saturday.
Showers may return towards the end of the weekend, with the weather forecast putting the chance of rain at 30% for Sunday.
