Helene made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region as a category 4 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). The storm brought catastrophic inland flooding, extreme winds, deadly storm surge, and numerous tornadoes that devastated portions of the southeastern United States and southern Appalachians. Helene is responsible for at least 250 fatalities in the United States (including at least 176 direct deaths), making it the deadliest hurricane in the contiguous U.S. since Katrina in 2005. Helene also produced tropical storm conditions and minor damage across portions of Mexico and Cuba. Click here for the National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report.
