Live

Hurricane Helene live updates: 3 dead, 2 million without power across 4 states

Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Thursday night.

Last Updated: September 27, 2024, 3:37 AM EDT

Helene -- which weakened to a Category 1 hurricane on Friday morning -- made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Thursday with 140 mph winds.

1:40 AM EDT

200,000 lose power in Georgia

More than 200,000 customers were without power in Georgia as Hurricane Helene pushed inland in the early hours of Friday morning, according to poweroutages.us.

The website said 244,657 were without power. More than 1.2 million customers in Florida were also disconnected.

A satellite image shows Hurricane Helene churning through the Gulf of Florida, U.S., September 26, 2024, in his screengrab from a Handout video. (PHOTO: NASA/Handout via REUTERS)
Nasa/via Reuters

-ABC News’ David Brennan

1:32 AM EDT

People told to 'remain in place' as Category 2 Helene moves into southern Georgia

The National Hurricane Center has warned residents to "remain in place" as Hurricane Helene moves into southern Georgia as a Category 2 storm.

NHC advises people not to step outside when the calm of the eye is over them, as winds will increase after Helene passes.

Helene has moved almost 75 miles inland, but remains a hurricane with top sustained winds now at 110 mph.
ABC News

Helene made landfall in Perry, Florida, as a Category 4, with 140 mph winds, but the speed of its maximum sustained winds has dropped to 110 mph.

The hurricane is moving across land at 26 mph.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 customers are without power in Georgia, according to poweroutage.us.

-ABC News' Richard Von Ohlen

1:14 AM EDT

Wind gusts in Perry, Florida, clock in at 99 mph

Hurricane Helene has brought strong wind gusts across Florida's West Coast.

Perry, where Helene made landfall, recorded wind gusts of 99 mph.

Sarasota-Bradenton Airport in Sarasota reported gusts of 74 mph.

Tampa International Airport saw 68 mph winds

St. Petersburg reported wind gusts of 82 mph.

Clearwater Beach recorded 75 mph winds.

A maritime station in Cedar Key recorded wind gusts of 84 mph, while Egmont Channel noted 81 mph.

12:25 AM EDT

Hurricane Helene begins move toward southeastern Georgia

Helene makes landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.
6:23

Hurricane Helene has made landfall as a Category 4 storm

Helene makes landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.

Hurricane Helene remains a Category 4 storm as it heads inland over the Florida Panhandle, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane is moving toward southeastern Georgia and remains dangerous and life-threatening, per the NHC.

A tide gauge from the National Ocean Service in Cedar Key, Florida, is reporting that the water level is 8.68 feet above mean higher high water.

Power is now out for more than 1.1 million customers in Florida, while Georgia is dealing with 92,974 outages.

-ABC News' Richard Von Ohlen and Jolie Lash