Hurricanes

The FOX Forecast Center expects the worst of the weather to be in the Atlanta metro from after midnight Friday morning through sunset.

Hurricane Helene is forecast to make landfall along the Florida Big Bend on Thursday evening. It's also expected to impact major cities including Atlanta, Nashville and St. Louis.

Helene strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday and is expected to strengthen further – potentially becoming a major hurricane – before making landfall over Florida on Thursday. Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, torrential rain, and flooding are possible.

The large storm will bring widespread heavy rain, damaging wind and possible tornadoes to cities in the Southeast, including Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina.

As the Category 1 hurricane formed Wednesday morning, it unleashed its fury in the Caribbean as its destructive eye is now set on the Florida coast with a life-threatening landfall expected on Thursday. The NHC said that the storm would bring "life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rains" as it heads toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

As Hurricane Helene approaches the U.S., the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina has opened its campgrounds to evacuees seeking shelter from the storm.

Tropical Storm Helene is nearing hurricane strength just offshore of the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula toward the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). It's expected to become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) before making landfall in Florida's Big Bend region on Thursday.

NASA and SpaceX have postponed the launch of the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station due to Tropical Storm Helene.

Given Florida’s distinctive coastline, its topography makes it particularly vulnerable to storm surge flooding during hurricanes and other significant storm systems. 

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Monday morning and is forecast to become a hurricane later this week, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

According to the National Hurricane Center, the highest chance of tropical development over the next week is in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

Learn how the Central American Gyre, a broad low-pressure system, can influence tropical storm formation and impact hurricane season. Stay informed about its potential effects on the Gulf and Caribbean.

Francine has since been downgraded to a tropical depression, but the storm’s dangerous and life-threatening impacts are expected to continue well inland.

Hurricane Francine barreled into southern Louisiana on Wednesday evening as a category 2 storm, making landfall with destructive 100 mph winds and dangerous storm surge along the Bayou state's coastline.