Hurricane Helene is one of the most expansive and damaging hurricanes on record for the Southeast United States due to its rare size, rapid intensification, storm surge, massive flooding and high winds.
The scope of what we have been predicting for days is now being realized in the aftermath of Helene.
We heard people talking about how the center was going to move further away from us, as if that was going to matter for us.
If you were surprised, then please consider becoming part of the Climate Adaptation Center (CAC). Our insights in science based information should be making a difference to you.
On Thursday, Sep. 28, 2024, Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida, as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds reported at 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The CAC knew this was no ordinary hurricane and had concerns well before the storm neared Florida. Before the storm actually formed, we indicated storm surge would be a huge problem for the Suncoast and much of the Florida West Coast.
Bob Bunting, CEO of the CAC, told its newsletter readers and the Sarasota Magazine that this storm has the potential for severe impacts outside its projected path. “Helene is a massive storm, much larger and more powerful than Hurricane Debby, and is currently in a very dangerous position for Florida,” Bunting said, warning not to focus solely on the forecast cone.
Bunting pleaded with the public, “Please heed evacuation messages in your specific community and leave if alerted to.”
He added that he expects the hurricane to rapidly intensify in the Gulf of Mexico, with storm surge being a major concern. Surge levels could range from 4 to 8 feet from Englewood north through Tampa Bay, and potentially reach up to 15 feet near Helene’s landfall.
“At first the winds will blow from the land to the Gulf, but after the eye passes Thursday late afternoon, expect strong onshore winds with high storm surge potential with saltwater flooding along the coastlines,” Bunting told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
The storm was historic along our coastal areas with major damage, and as shown in the graphic above, the storm surge set records in many locations.
In Cedar Key, a town of barely 700, the storm delivered more than nine feet of surge.
Even though the storm was about 100 miles off the coast during the storm’s passage, Manatee County recorded peak storm surges of between 5.5 feet and 7 feet at various data points throughout the county. Devastating sites are now in our mind. For us, this was the worst of five major impacts in just the past 2 years!
Emergency operators answered more than a thousand 9-1-1 calls, and along Florida’s west coast, that number exceeded 10,000.
St. Armands Circle Friday afternoon after Hurricane Helene’s storm surge.
Thomas Bender/ Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Similar storm surge flooding was experienced in Sarasota County. Two days after the storm passed, there was still no access to St. Armands, Lido and Longboat keys. Casey Key and Manasota Key still have uncleared roads, and Casey Key does not have water service.
At least 52 people were killed in five states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the Associated Press.
With over $100 billion in property damage, this is one of the most devastating storms in history. For comparison, Hurricane Ian caused $112 billion in total damage.
Sadly, we expect another named storm in the Gulf during the week. As always, we will provide you with the latest updates and local information second to none.
Rapid intensification
Like other high-profile climate-fueled storms of the last few years, Helene also experienced “rapid intensification,” gaining strength at a phenomenal pace as it passes through the exceptionally warm waters of the Gulf.
Rapid intensification is defined as an increase in wind speeds by at least 35 mph within 24 hours. The more energy the storm absorbs from the warm water, the stronger and more dangerous it becomes.
Helene began the day Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane, and quickly transformed into one of the largest, most powerful Gulf storms on record, with its maximum sustained winds of 140 mph at landfall that night.
It made landfall as a Category 4 storm, just days after first forming in the Caribbean. It ballooned into one of the widest storms on record, allowing it to bring life-threatening winds and rain as far inland as Tennessee.
Climate warming’s role
A warmer climate, especially higher sea surface temperatures, accelerates hurricane intensification by providing more energy for storms. Warm water fuels hurricanes through heat and moisture transfer into the atmosphere, which enhances the storm’s convection, driving up wind speeds and storm power.
When ocean temperatures are unusually warm, the extra energy can cause that rapid intensification.
Due largely to climate warming, more storms now undergo rapid intensification, and there is an amplification of the intensification rates in the Atlantic Ocean Basin.
Helene fed on exceptionally warm ocean temperatures. As it continued its march north to the Gulf Coast, it gathered strength from water that’s both unusually warm. “It’s like rocket fuel for these storms,” said Bunting.
Rapidly intensifying hurricanes can catch residents off guard and sometimes unable to have time to evacuate a suddenly stronger storm as it bears down on them.
Until about 2017, Gulf of Mexico hurricanes rarely intensified all the way to landfall in the northern Gulf, due mainly to cooler waters near the shoreline, now it has seemingly become the norm there.
Climate warming is impacting our health
The traumatic experience of more dangerous hurricanes and historic storm surges is significantly impacting human health, leading to various physical and mental health issues. Individuals may experience increased rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression following such disasters. The stress from displacement, loss of property, and the threat to life contributes to these mental health challenges.
Because of this, the CAC is hosting the 4th Annual Florida Climate Conference focusing on climate and human health on November 14-15, 20024 at USF-SM.
This interactive conference is made for the public and will address the growing impact of extreme weather events like hurricanes and storm surges on mental and physical well-being.
The conference will address pressing medical concerns related to infectious diseases, air and water quality’s impact on public health, and the broader implications of climate change for healthcare systems.
Participants will be able to ask questions and learn about the critical link between climate adaptation and health resilience, empowering them with essential knowledge to tackle these challenges. For further details, visit this link.