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Hurricane Helene live updates: 44 dead across the South

Flooding remains a major threat through the weekend.

ByEmily Shapiro, David Brennan, Leah Sarnoff, Julia Reinstein, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: September 27, 2024, 3:16 AM EDT

Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region Thursday night as a massive Category 4 hurricane -- the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend on record.

The storm surge, wind damage and inland flooding from Helene has been catastrophic, leaving dozens dead.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Sep 27, 2024, 3:16 AM EDT

Helene’s center to pass east of Macon, Georgia

The center of Hurricane Helene is projected to pass east of Macon, Georgia, after 3 a.m. ET, according to the latest forecast.

Hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings remain in effect through the early morning hours of Friday.

Hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings remain in effect through the early morning hours on Friday across the South as the center of Hurricane Helene is expected to move east of Macon, Georgia.
ABC News

The storm is expected to slow and weaken on Friday, turning northwestward to move through Georgia toward the Tennessee-North Carolina border, the National Hurricane Center said.

-ABC News’ Richard Von Ohlen

Sep 27, 2024, 2:19 AM EDT

Helene downgraded to Category 1

Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane in the early hours of Friday having moved around 100 miles inland into Florida and Georgia.

Its sustained winds dropped to 90 mph, with further weakening expected through to 5 a.m. ET.

Residents of Leon County take shelter from Hurricane Helene at Leon High School near downtown Tallahassee, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2024.
Octavio Jones/Reuters

Helene is maintaining speed at around 26 mph, heading north-northeast through central Georgia.

Macon, Atlanta, and Augusta are expected to experience damaging winds and torrential rain over the next two to three hours.

"Life-threatening storm surge, winds and heavy rains continue," the National Hurricane Center wrote on X.

-ABC News' Richard Von Ohlen

Sep 27, 2024, 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

Sep 27, 2024, 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.