It’s a nice evening across Central Indiana this Thursday. This is the story as Hurricane Helene continues to barrel toward Florida’s Big Bend with anticipated landfall taking place this evening. The storm strengthened to a major Category 4 storm just before 6:30 p.m.. Storm Surge, Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings have been posted along Florida’s Gulf Coast. As of this writing, Helene is packing 155 MPH winds with its eye being west of Tampa. Storm surge in those spots could approach 20 feet with high amounts well inland.
Clouds are on the rise already and will continue to move in from the east overnight. The clouds will stick around for a few days into the weekend. Winds are also beginning to pick up with the peak of the winds about 24 hours away. Wind Advisories have been posted for Friday.
Timing the rain and winds
Rain will begin after Midnight from south to north with some heavier bouts in spots. Then, the activity becomes lighter and more scattered as we approach midday. Helene’s remnants get here for the afternoon and evening (3-9 PM), that’s where the peak wind gusts will occur. Some spots will see gusts of 40-55 MPH possibly. Events will likely be canceled, power outages are possible along with flooding in spots.
When all is said and done, the heavier rainfall amounts will be along and south of I-70 heading into the weekend. Rainfall potential upward of 2.0″ is likely with some locally higher amounts, too. Fewer totals are likely the further north you go from Indianapolis. NOTE: Any shift in track could shift these totals ever so slightly. This comes as our drought continues across the Hoosier State with an extreme drought in for extreme SE Central Indiana.
Improvements into next week
While the widespread rains will be Friday evening, some scattered activity will be around for Saturday and Sunday. The clouds will also stick around before we see some improvements into next week. Temperatures will also rise slightly getting back near 80° by the middle of next week.
