Hurricane Helene was a catastrophic and deadly hurricane that struck in late September 2024. It rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall near Perry in the Big Bend region of Florida on September 26, 2024, with peak sustained winds of 140 mph. It was the deadliest U.S. hurricane since Katrina in 2005 and caused extensive damage including storm surge flooding, wind destruction, and inland flooding across the Southeastern United States. Helene caused at least 250 deaths and approximately $78.7 billion to $200 billion in damages, making it among the costliest Atlantic hurricanes in history. The storm's impacts were felt from Florida through parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia, with significant flooding and a high death toll particularly in mountainous regions due to heavy rainfall and tornadoes spawned by the storm.
Key Facts about Hurricane Helene
- Formed: September 22, 2024, in the western Caribbean Sea.
- Rapid intensification in the Gulf of Mexico to Category 4 by September 26.
- Made landfall near Perry, Florida, with 140 mph winds.
- Caused 248-252 fatalities, including many from freshwater flooding.
- Damage estimates range from $78.7 billion to approximately $200 billion.
- Responsible for widespread flooding, tornadoes, and power outages in the Southeastern U.S.
- Dissipated by September 29, 2024, after stalling over Tennessee.
Hurricane Helene is remembered as one of the most severe and deadly hurricanes in recent U.S. history.
