TIMELINE Sept. 27: Helene downgraded to a tropical system

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 has crews around Florida covering the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

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5 p.m. update:

Helene has become a post-tropical system over the state of Kentucky.

The 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center showed winds to 35 mph, and the system has transitioned into an extratropical cyclone.

Additional catastrophic flash flooding is likely across the southern Appalachians tonight, and river flooding will become an increasing concern in that area this weekend.

Long-duration power outages are becoming likely in parts of the southeast US.

Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4 major hurricane in the Big Bend with winds of 140 mph.

2 p.m. update:

Helene has been downgraded to a tropical depression as its center pushes into southern Kentucky.

The 2 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center decreased winds to 35 mph, making Helene a tropical depression.

The system has dumped historic and catastrophic rainfall across portions of the Carolinas and Georgia, where flash flood emergencies remain in effect.

Helene is expected to continue to weaken and become an extratropical system later today.

12:40 p.m. update:

Over 4 million people in the southeastern U.S. are without power Friday afternoon due to Hurricane Helene.

Both South Carolina and Georgia have over 1 million residents without power, with Florida slightly below 1 million.

In Central Florida, the county with the largest number of outages is Marion, with 36,000 as of noon.

Read: More than 4 million without power across southeastern US due to Hurricane Helene

11:50 a.m. update:

Gov. Ron DeSantis is planning to hold another news conference Friday to share updates on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

DeSantis plans to speak around 1:30 p.m. from the Woody’s Waterfront restaurant in St. Petersburg Beach.

Joining DeSantis will be Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie and Major General John D. Haas, Adjutant General of Florida.

We will have live coverage of DeSantis’s news conference on Channel 9 and wftv.com.

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11 a.m. update:

Helene continues to race northward across the Southeast, producing historic and catastrophic flooding.

The 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center has the center 105 miles north-northeast of Atlanta, quickly moving to the north at 32 miles per hour.

Flash Flood Emergencies are in effect for Metro Atlanta and portions of Upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina.

Read: Hurricane Helene: See photos of damage, flooding in Florida

The National Hurricane Center also estimates storm surge in the Big Bend region around Taylor County exceeded 15 feet above ground level during landfall of Helene Thursday night.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Joyce has formed in the open Atlantic.

The tenth named storm is over 1300 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

Joyce is expected to remain a tropical storm in the open Atlantic and eventually weaken and head out to sea early next week.

10:20 a.m. update:

Deputies in Lee County performed a daring rescue mission as Hurricane Helene barreled toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

WATCH: Florida deputies rescue man trapped inside home by Hurricane Helene floodwaters

Deputies said a man called 911 as floodwaters took over his home.

Videos show deputies making their way through murky water to rescue the man.

9:30 a.m. update:

Gov. Ron DeSantis is giving an update Friday morning on Florida’s response after Hurricane Helene slammed the state.

Watch DeSantis’ full news conference here:

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie joined DeSantis at the event.

8:40 a.m. update:

First responders in Florida came across an active house fire while navigating Hurricane Helene floodwaters by boat.

Watch: Florida crews respond to house fire during flooding from Hurricane Helene

Crews from the South Pasadena Fire Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office found the scene while responding to water rescues.

Crews said they have been responding to as many emergency calls as possible.

7:50 a.m. update:

ABC News is reporting six people have died as a direct result of Hurricane Helene.

Officials have reported one death in Florida, four in Georgia, and one in North Carolina.

First responders are still actively looking for additional victims.

7:25 a.m. update:

Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to give an update Friday morning in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

DeSantis is planning to hold a news conference at 9 a.m. from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.

We will have live coverage of DeSantis’s news conference on Channel 9 and wftv.com.

6:35 a.m. update:

Channel 9 meteorologists are monitoring a new area of disturbance in the Caribbean that could develop into a tropical system.

The National Hurricane Center says the low-pressure area has a less than 40% chance of development over the next week.

It’s still too soon to know where the system could go or how strong it could be if it becomes a named storm.

Channel 9 will continue to monitor all tropical activity and provide updates on Eyewitness News.

5:45 a.m. update:

Helene weakened to a strong tropical storm Friday morning.

Helene is moving farther inland over Georgia. The center of the storm is around nine miles from Atlanta.

Coastal areas of Georgia are still seeing life-threatening storm surges, strong winds and heavy rains.

Strong and fast-moving outer rain bands from Helene are still moving through parts of Central Florida.

4:55 a.m. update:

Hurricane Helene is rapidly moving north through Central Georgia.

It’s still unclear the extent of the damage that was left behind after Helene made landfall in Florida overnight.

Helene continues to produce hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall.

A weather station at the University of Georgia reported 77 mph wind gusts Friday morning.

Read: Hurricane evacuation: Helpful apps for finding gas, hotel rooms, traffic routes

Eyewitness News This Morning has live coverage of Helene’s aftermath on Channel 9.

Original report:

Helene has made landfall in the Florida Big Bend as a Category 4 major hurricane.

The storm made landfall just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River.

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This is 10 miles west-southwest of Perry.

Winds are at 140 mph with a minimum pressure of 938 MB.

Watch: Utility companies across Central Florida brace for Helene

This is the strongest hurricane to hit the Big Bend area in recorded history.

TIMELINE: Hurricane Helene updates Sept. 26

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates:

• Chief meteorologist Tom Terry
• Brian Shields
• Kassandra Crimi
• David Heckard

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