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    • Hurricane Helene hits Sarasota Bradenton prepares for flood closures
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    Hurricane Helene hits Sarasota Bradenton prepares for flood closures

    Vaseline Posted on

    Staff report
    | Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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    What you need to know about potential Hurricane Helene:

    • Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, with Sarasota and Manatee counties just outside the storm’s cone of uncertainty.
    • Sarasota and Manatee County are under a Hurricane Watch, Tropical Storm Watch and a Storm Surge Warning. A Flood Warning has also been issued for the area beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday and ending at 8 a.m. Friday.
    • The National Weather Service is predicting storm surge of 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 meters) off Sarasota County and 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 meters) off Manatee County, and about 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 centimeters) of rain, with locally higher precipitation.
    • Sarasota County has closed schools from Wednesday through Friday. Manatee County has closed schools on Wednesday and Thursday.
    • Manatee and Sarasota have ordered evacuations. View the latest Sarasota County evacuation orders or Manatee County evacuation orders.

    Below are the latest updates on the storm and its impacts in Sarasota and Manatee counties. (Or read yesterday’s Live Helene blog to catch up.)

    According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Helene continues to strengthen as forecast.

    Helene’s maximum sustained winds are now 70 mph, just shy of the 74 mph needed to be considered a hurricane. The storm is expected to strengthen throughout the day and is likely to become a hurricane in the coming hours. If the storm continues on its forecast path, Helene will strike the Big Bend area of ​​Florida late Thursday night, likely as a Category 3 hurricane.

    The forecast for Sarasota and Manatee County remains the same, with heavy rainfall (3-6 inches), significant storm surge (4-7 feet in coastal Sarasota County, 5-8 feet in coastal Manatee County), and tropical storm force winds expected. The main impact from Helene locally is expected to begin Thursday morning and last throughout the day.

    Tropical Storm Helene strengthened overnight, with maximum sustained winds now reaching 65 mph. Tropical storm force winds are reaching 175 miles from the storm’s center.

    The storm is expected to rapidly strengthen and grow in size throughout the morning, and will develop into Hurricane Helene later this morning, reaching the Gulf of Mexico.

    Sarasota and Manatee counties could be impacted by Hurricane Helene tonight, with tropical storm force winds and heavy rain expected throughout the night and into Thursday morning.

    According to the National Weather Service forecast, Sarasota and Manatee counties can expect three to six inches of rain, with up to 10 inches in some areas; storm surge of four to six feet in coastal Sarasota County, five to eight feet in coastal Manatee County; and a few tornadoes possible.

    If the hurricane continues on its current track, Helene is expected to hit Big Bend, Florida, as a major hurricane on Thursday evening.

    Manatee County has issued an evacuation notice for residents living in Level A flood zones beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning in preparation for Tropical Storm Helene.

    Evacuation Level A includes all of Anna Maria Island and the Manatee portion of Longboat Key, as well as coastal areas on the mainland. The evacuation also applies to all low-lying and flood-prone areas, as well as all mobile and manufactured homes. Residents living in Evacuation Level B are asked to pay attention to storm surge forecasts and voluntarily evacuate if prudent.

    Residents can visit mymanatee.org/storm for information on evacuation levels and shelters. Shelters have not yet opened.

    Sarasota County has issued an evacuation order for Level A areas, as well as manufactured communities and the areas of Forked Creek in Englewood, Curry Creek and Hatchett Creek in Venice.

    Evacuation centers in Sarasota County will open at noon on Wednesday, September 25.

    Community members can determine their evacuation level and locate the nearest evacuation center at scgov.net.

    Vaseline
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