After developing into a Category 4 storm and causing extensive damage, Helen recedes, but warns of more flooding

Arab Weather - The dangerous Hurricane "Helen" entered the US state of Florida on Thursday evening, with the force of a Category 4 hurricane on an ascending scale of 5 categories, according to what the National Hurricane Center announced. The hurricane weakened significantly after entering land and its classification was raised to a Category 1 hurricane.

The eye of the hurricane crossed Florida at 3 a.m. Friday.

"Based on National Weather Service Doppler radar data, the eye of Hurricane Helene made landfall" in the Big Bend area of northern Florida "around 11:10 p.m." (3:10 a.m. GMT), the center said, with winds of 145 to 155 mph (225 to 250 km/h) as it headed over the Gulf of Mexico toward the northwest of the third-most populous U.S. state.

The following is the latest information received by the Meteorological Center about the hurricane from global observatories:

Friday afternoon update

Recent observations
Category: Tropical Storm
Atmospheric pressure: 968 mbar
Wind speed: 113 knots
Latitude: 35 North
Longitude: 85 West
Direction: Northwest

After analyzing the latest satellite images, the storm is affecting the state of Georgia with strong winds and heavy rains, and also threatens the risk of flooding and torrential rains in those areas. Although the case is classified as a tropical storm, this does not mean that the effects will not be dangerous, but the risk of flooding is still very high.

The massive amounts of rainfall expected today and tomorrow could lead to severe flooding in Georgia and Tennessee, threatening infrastructure and property and putting people’s lives at risk. Heavy rains could also trigger landslides, posing an additional risk to villages and residential areas near slopes.

God knows best.