ATLANTA — Georgia is bracing for the impacts of Hurricane Helene as it moves into the state and closer to metro Atlanta early Friday morning.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Helene had strengthened to a Category 4 storm on Thursday, making landfall in Florida late that evening. The 11Alive Weather Impact team has forecasted Helene to remain a hurricane in southern and central Georgia and a tropical storm as it cuts through north Georgia.
The storm is moving toward north Georgia through the overnight hours, causing significant issues, mainly with flooding. A little after 2:30, Sandy Springs residents near Nancy Creek were ordered to evacuate due to flooding. There are multiple flood warnings in Atlanta, including for Nancy Creek, Peachtree Creek and Woodall Creek.
Many Georgia schools had already canceled classes for Friday; here's our current list: Georgia school closings for Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene live updates for Metro Atlanta, north Georgia | Friday, Sept. 27
5:35 a.m. | Here's another look at the flooding at Nancy Creek:
5:30 a.m. | 11Alive's Cody Alcorn giving a look at Piedmont Road for a waterway that is usually nowhere near this swollen:
5:15 a.m. | More flood warnings in Cobb, for Noonday Creek near Marietta and Nickajack Creek near Mableton.
5:05 a.m. | Flash flood warning continues through 7:15 a.m. for a zone stretching from Thomaston up through Atlanta and north to Milton.
5:00 a.m. | More from the latest National Hurricane Center advisory on Helene:
- About 40 miles east of Macon and 100 miles southeast now of Atlanta, in the area of Wilkinson County
- Maximum sustained winds of 70 mph
- Moving north at 30 mph, likely to impact Athens area most directly
- That fast-moving northward speed, the NHC says, "will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians."
4:55 a.m. | Helene has weakened to a tropical storm as it makes its way toward north Georgia:
4:50 a.m. | Flood warning issued for Allatoona Creek at Stilesboro Road near Acworth.
4:25 a.m. | Status update on Helene:
- About 40 miles southeast of Macon in the 4 a.m. advisory update
- Still producing hurricane-force winds -- maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, moving north at 30 mph
- It looks like it will be east of Atlanta and close to our region, potentially around Athens, sometime in the 5 a.m. hour
- 11Alive Meteorologist Nicole Hartford is projecting things will begin to calm down in our area around 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. later in the morning.
4:20 a.m. | Flood warning issued for Sope Creek near Marietta.
4:00 a.m. | Multiple residents were rescued from flooding at a Buckhead apartment complex. Read details here:
RELATED: Numerous residents rescued from Buckhead apartment complex after major flooding from Helene
3:16 a.m. | A flood warning was issued for Woodall Creek at Defoors Ferry Road in Atlanta.
3:15 a.m. | Here are a couple photos our photojournalist Stephen Boissy has sent along from Peachtree Creek:
3:05 a.m. | The flash flood warning for this zone has been extended through 5:15 a.m.
2:42 a.m. | A wireless emergency alert to evacuate has been sent to Sandy Springs residents along Nancy Creek, Fulton EMA said.
2:11 a.m. | 11Alive's Chief Meteorologist Chris Holcomb said a new advisory has come in stating that Helene is now a Category 1 Hurricane.
2:08 a.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp sent his condolences on X after learning about the loss of two lives in Wheeler County.
"As we join their families in mourning their deaths, we urge all Georgians to brace for further impact from Helene, remain vigilant and pray for all those affected," Kemp wrote.
2:00 a.m. | The City of Alpharetta is asking people not to call 911 to report trees that have fallen in roadways or on powerlines. Instead, use the online SeeClickFix reporting tool by clicking here.
1:53 a.m. | A woman was hurt in Griffin after her roof caved in, police said. According to Griffin Police, shortly after 11 p.m. on Thursday, law enforcement was called to the 400 block of Hammond Drive in reference to a structure cave-in due to a fallen tree.
Neighbors were alerted to a loud noise and heard calls for help coming from the residents. When first responders arrived, they were able to enter the home that had a collapsed roof. The woman was extricated from the house and taken to the hospital. She is reported to be in stable condition, police said. The City of Griffin is asking everyone to continue to exercise caution.
1:43 a.m. | 11Alive's Chief Meteorologist Chris Holcomb describes where the impacts of Hurricane Helene in Georgia will be felt.
1:29 a.m. | Clayton County Emergency Management Agency said that there is significant flooding and roads are blocked off on Upper Riverdale Road near Southern Regional.
1:01 a.m. | Sandy Springs officials said that a large tree is blocking all lanes on Riverside Drive near River North Lane.
12:45 a.m. | Peachtree Creek in Atlanta near the intersection of Sagamore, Woodward Way and Highway 41 is at 20 feet now, 11Alive's Meteorologist Mellisa Nord said. Evacuations may end up being needed.
12:37 a.m. | 11Alive continues to track Hurricane Helen's path as it made landfall in Florida.
12:35 a.m. | Flood warning from 1:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. for Fulton County, NWS said.
12:06 a.m. | Sandy Springs officials said the Windsor Parkway Bridge over Nancy Creek between Northland and Peachtree Dunwoody is closed due to flooding. Officials said to please not attempt to drive around the barricades.
12:11 a.m. | Just after midnight, outages are continuing to tick up in Georgia -- with just shy of 70k Georgia Power customers without electricity. The numbers are expected to increase as Helene pushes into the state.
11:44 p.m. | According to Fulton County Emergency Management, there are ongoing evacuations along Nancy Creek in Sandy Springs.
11:36 p.m. | Flash flood warning issued for Fulton County until 5:30 a.m. A flood warning is from 11:34 p.m. until further notice. There's also a warning in Cobb County, including Marietta, Smyrna and Mableton, until 5:30 a.m., according to NWS Atlanta.
11:23 p.m. | Helene makes landfall along Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 Hurricane, according to the NWS.
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