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•The National Weather Service is tracking a potential tropical depression forming near the Yucatan Peninsula this week.
•Northwest Florida residents should prepare for hazardous marine conditions and rip currents by the end of the week.
•No immediate impact is expected, but the system’s progress will be closely monitored.
Hurricane Helene has intensified into a powerful Category 3 storm, with expectations of further strengthening as it approaches landfall in the Florida Big Bend area late tonight or early Friday morning. The storm’s dangerously high surf, deadly rip currents, and hazardous marine conditions are already affecting the eastern Gulf Coast, and these impacts will persist through Friday. Although Okaloosa County remains west of the storm’s center, gusty winds, rip currents, and minor coastal flooding remain possible.
Local Updates:
•Okaloosa County Schools: “
The Okaloosa County School District is pleased to confirm that all schools will be open and operating as scheduled tomorrow, Friday, September 27, following a comprehensive update with Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox. We are grateful that Okaloosa County avoided the worst of Hurricane Helene’s impact, and our thoughts remain with the counties more severely affected by Hurricane Helene.
For families who chose to evacuate or are traveling from areas more significantly impacted by the hurricane, please rest assured that absences and tardies will be excused. We kindly ask that families follow their school’s regular procedures for reporting excused absences and tardies. Additionally, each school will directly communicate any changes or updates regarding extracurricular activities and after-school programs to ensure the safety and convenience of our families.
We look forward to welcoming our students, staff, and administrators back to school tomorrow.”
•Okaloosa Island Pier: In response to Hurricane Helene, the pier will close today at 6 PM and delay reopening until at least 6 AM tomorrow, pending damage assessments. Staff appreciate the support of visitors today and urge everyone to stay safe while keeping those in the storm’s direct path in their thoughts.
•Okaloosa County Emergency Management: Helene remains a major hurricane, now projected to strengthen into a Category 4 before making landfall. Winds of up to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph are expected along the coast early Friday. Rip current risks will remain high through Friday, and residents are urged to stay informed through official updates.
•Eglin Air Force Base: Base personnel have moved vehicles and aircraft into secure hangars to protect them from the impending weather conditions brought by Hurricane Helene.
All Okaloosa County Schools, as well as Northwest Florida State College are closed in anticipation of effects from Hurricane Helene. No decision has been made as to whether or not school will be held on Friday.
As of September 26, 2024, Eglin Air Force Base has transitioned to a mission essential posture due to the impending threat of Hurricane Helene. The hurricane, expected to strengthen into a major storm, is forecast to make landfall along Florida’s Big Bend area late Thursday. Coastal areas are already bracing for dangerous conditions, including high surf, deadly rip currents, hazardous marine environments, and gusty winds.
Base Closures and Affected Services
Beginning at 6 a.m. on September 26, most operations and services at Eglin AFB will be closed or impacted. Critical services, such as the 96th Medical Group’s Emergency Room and inpatient care, will remain open, while all other medical facilities will be closed. Additionally, the following facilities will not operate:
•Eglin’s Aero Club
•Outdoor Recreation
•Golf Course
•Child Development Centers
•Youth Center
The commissary, West Gate Shoppette, and gas pumps will close at 3 p.m. today. Personnel are urged to stay in contact with their leadership for further updates regarding their duty status.
Storm Impacts and Precautions
Hurricane Helene’s effects will be felt across the region, with south-central Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle under alert for heavy rainfall and strong winds. Coastal flooding and hazardous marine conditions are anticipated through Thursday night.
More information has continued to stream in from official sources as local, state and federal officials prepare for the coming of Hurricane Helene farther to our east.
At this point in the storm’s development, there is a 97.5% chance the storm will make landfall to our east. Most meteorologists have the storm landing to the south of Tallahassee and moving to the north from there in to south Georgia and up to Atlanta.
Okaloosa County Schools say they will open for classes and continue extracirricular activities after the regular school day on Wednesday, September 25. A message released by the district says they will make a decision about whether or not to open schools on Thursday and Friday on Wenesday Afternoon.
Eglin Air Force Base said in a release Tuesday afternoon that some medical appointments on base may be affected by the arrival of the storm. The medical group on base added patients should ensure they have at least 10 days of prescription medications ready to go. “Eglin AFB is prioritizing the safety and security of our personnel, and we will continue to closely monitor and respond appropriately to any upcoming weather conditions,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro, 96th Test Wing commander. The release added that services across the base may be impacted.
Florida District One Congressperson Matt Gaetz said in a statement he hand his team will monitor the storm and released a series of tips, information and contacts for consituents to reach out about in the immediate future.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 41 of Florida’s 67 counties – highlighting the wide range of areas where a storm system near the Yucatan Peninsula could make landfall in the Sunshine State.
When it becomes a tropical storm or hurricane – the National Hurricane Center will likely designate the hurricane with the name Helene.
The State of Florida’s Emergency Management Team noted that Tropical Cyclone Nine “is rapidly intensifying as it moves into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.” The Governor’s emergency order activates the National Guard and allows agencies to suspend some statutes, rules and regulations to expedite disaster response and recovery.
The National Hurricane Center believes this storm will reach hurricane strength by Tuesday night in the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
Ultimately, the Governor’s office noted that they believe the storm will make landfall on the northeastern Gulf Coast of Florida, near Taylor County, on Thursday at the earliest. A release from the governor’s office says they believe the impacts of the storm could reach the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday. These effects include rip currents, strong winds and high waves.
According to the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, “Hurricane Hunters will be flying today and tomorrow to get a firm location on the low center and survey the structure of the system.”
Eglin Air Force Base public affairs say the Air Force Base has begun to prepare the families on base, as well as the assets on the installation, for tropical storm conditions.
“The safety of Team Eglin personnel is my number one priority,” said the Base’s commander, Brigadier General Mark Massaro, “as this system approaches, we will prioritize our actions to ensure their safety. I ask all of Team Eglin to please take the appropriate actions necessary to prepare yourselves and your loved ones for this weather event.”
Eglin Public Affairs says it will “closely monitor the tropics” and push out information to keep people informed as to what is going on.
Eglin Air Force Base and Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS) Airport cancelled a tri-annual Joing Aircraft Major Accident Response Exercise that was scheduled for September 25th as a response to the potential for bad weather conditions on base.
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The National Weather Service notes that now is a good time to review a hurricane preparedness plan. If you don’t have one – Okaloosa County puts out a good plan every year.
Additionally, you should consider using these resources for weather information:
The National Weather Service in Mobile says in its Sunday report that it is monitoring a “broad area of low pressure [that is] likely to form during the early to middle part of the week over the northwest Caribbean.”
The agency outpost, responsible for monitoring weather and providing updates for the Okaloosa County area believes that gradual development is to be expected and “a tropical depression could form as the system moves northward into the Gulf of Mexico through the end of the week.”
While the chance that a tropical depression forms before Tuesday is less than ten percent, the National Weather System does note that the chance of a tropical event taking place in the next week is seventy percent.
No effects of tropical weather are expected in our area through at least Wednesday, if at all. They note that northwest Floridians should be prepared for hazardous marine conditions, increased surf, and an increased chance of rip currents in gulf waters later this week.
“It is too early to determine impacts at this time. We will continue to monitor this potential system during the next several days. It is important not to focus on individual model forecasts,” the National Weather Service warned, “Follow trusted sources of weather information.”
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