Hurricane Helene in South Carolina: Tracker, latest forecast

The National Weather Service office in Atlanta issued a tornado warning covering parts of South Carolina. Inland and coastal flooding could cause major damage in the state.

South Carolina is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Helene, which will make landfall in the Florida Panhandle Thursday evening as a major hurricane with potential Category 3 or higher strength before sweeping across the Southeast, forecasters say.

More than 42 million people in the Southeast are under hurricane and tropical storm warnings as the storm makes landfall late Thursday somewhere in the Big Bend region of Florida, according to the National Weather Service.

After landfall, the storm is expected to continue into Georgia, but weather warnings and watches are in effect for areas of South Carolina as the Palmetto State is also expected to feel the effects of the storm.

On Thursday morning, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Georgia and South Carolina until 9 p.m. ET. The area monitored includes Savannah, Charleston and Columbia.

For live updates follow here: Hurricane Helene is now a severe Category 3 storm and is heading toward Florida

Coastal flooding and other damage is expected

Although the center of the hurricane's path is expected to narrowly miss South Carolina, significant rain damage and flooding will still be observed. Significant storm surges and coastal flooding are also expected in South Carolina due to strong winds from the Atlantic.

Parts of Charleston could experience flooding Thursday night into Friday morning. As the storm moves inland, strong winds could hit parts of the state, with many residents at risk of power outages, according to AccuWeather.

The National Weather Service office in Charleston issued tropical storm warnings Wednesday morning covering part of the South Carolina coast as well as areas inland.

In Columbia, the NWS office forecast that isolated tornadoes were likely and warned of strong wind gusts of more than 40 miles per hour, power outages and downed trees.

On Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a dire warning to residents across Georgia, Florida and South Carolina about inland flooding, which could pose a deadly threat even after the first storm.

“NOAA's National Weather Service is alerting communities that the flooding rains and strong winds from Helene will not be limited to the Gulf Coast and are expected to extend hundreds of miles inland,” the release said.

The service warned that major flooding risks could exist outside Florida in areas around metro Atlanta and western North Carolina.

Hurricane Helene Tracker

Note: The storm's impacts will be felt outside the cone shown in the graphic below.

Weather warnings for South Carolina

Tropical storm-force winds could develop in South Carolina on Thursday night

Featuring: Gabe Hauari, Dinah Voyles Pulver

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a featured news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

The National Weather Service office in Atlanta issued a tornado warning covering parts of South Carolina. Inland and coastal flooding could cause major damage in the state.

Coastal flooding and other damage is expected

Hurricane Helene Tracker

Weather warnings for South Carolina

Tropical storm-force winds could develop in South Carolina on Thursday night

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