Hurricane Helene, a significant weather event in late September 2024, made landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane. This powerful storm brought widespread impacts, most notably devastating flooding in the southern Appalachians and strong winds across a large swathe of the southeastern United States. While the eastern Carolinas experienced less direct impact from the storm’s center, they still faced considerable rain, wind, and tornado activity.
Hurricane Helene’s Wind and Rainfall in the Carolinas
Despite being further from the eye of Hurricane Helene, the eastern Carolinas were still affected by its outer bands. Rainfall amounts varied across the region, generally ranging from under an inch along the immediate coastline to over four inches in inland areas. Wind gusts were also a factor, peaking between 45 and 60 mph during the morning of September 27th. While these conditions were less severe compared to areas closer to the storm’s center, they still represented disruptive weather for the region.
For more detailed local meteorological information, summaries of rainfall and wind gusts are available online, providing specific data for those interested in the storm’s impact on this area.
Tornadoes Spun Off by Hurricane Helene
One of the more significant impacts in the Carolinas was the formation of tornadoes. Lines of thunderstorms, spawned well to the east of Hurricane Helene’s center, resulted in six confirmed tornadoes touching down across southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina on September 27th.
These tornadoes, while occurring at a distance from the hurricane’s landfall, demonstrate the far-reaching effects of such powerful storms. The map above illustrates the geographical distribution of these tornadoes across the region.
Several of these tornadoes have been individually documented, providing further details on their specific characteristics and impacts. Among these were tornadoes in Georgetown, Bay Road, and Centenary in South Carolina, and Garland tornadoes #1 and #2, and Hagley Landing tornado.
Damage from these tornadoes varied, with some causing notable destruction, such as along Helltown Road near the Bladen/Sampson County line.
Conclusion: Hurricane Helene’s Category and Regional Impacts
In summary, Hurricane Helene was a Category 4 hurricane at landfall, causing catastrophic flooding in the southern Appalachians and widespread wind damage. While the Carolinas experienced less direct impact from the storm’s center in terms of wind and rain, the region still faced hazardous conditions, including significant tornado activity spawned by the hurricane’s outer bands. This event underscores the broad and varied impacts that a major hurricane can have, even across regions not directly in its immediate path.
