Tropical Storm Helene – UPDATE #5 – 9/25/2024
University of Florida officials are actively monitoring Tropical Storm Helene. While much remains unknown about the storm’s exact path, here is what we know:
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for portions of Alachua County, including Gainesville, as of the 5 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Additionally, portions of Alachua County west of Interstate 75 have been placed under a Hurricane Warning.
This means forecasters expect the Gainesville campus will begin to experience tropical storm-force winds within the next 36 hours.
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville is forecasting wind speeds in the Gainesville area of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts of up to 60 mph. A Flood Watch is also in effect, with expected rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches and the potential for localized flooding.
Helene continued to strengthen overnight and is expected to make landfall along the Florida Panhandle or Big Bend region of Northeast Florida, possibly a major hurricane, around sunset Thursday. The storm’s wind field is expected to grow to a very large size, with tropical storm-force winds expected to extend outward up to 175 miles from its center.
UF officials will announce a decision by noon on Wednesday about Thursday’s campus operations and class schedules. Units outside of Alachua County should follow the guidance and closures of their local governments.
UF units in the eastern Panhandle, Big Bend, and North Florida as well as anywhere in the state within a watch or warning area should plan to finalize preparations by Wednesday night.
Students, faculty, and staff should monitor ongoing forecasts, review personal plans, and use Wednesday to prepare, including reviewing their emergency kit. Additional preparedness information is available at: https://emergency.ufl.edu/get-ready.
Regularly check the UF homepage for updates. Any announcements regarding operational changes will be made through official UF channels, including the UF Alert Emergency Notification System.
For additional information, please visit National Hurricane Center.
Additional key links:
Commonly asked questions for UF students
Alachua County Helene updates
Here’s how to prepare for hurricane season
Pre-storm preparation for students in UF housing
UF/IFAS Disaster Preparation & Recovery
This update was posted at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
