Southeast Polk To Receive Tropical Storm, But Escape the Worst Effects of Helene

Polk County and the Ridge will escape the worst effects of Hurricane Helene, but area residents should still be prepared for a blow, according to specific forecasts. Heavy rains and winds gusting to near Hurricane force are also possible as the storm passes to the west.

Courtesy NOAA

This morning' s image of Tropical Storm Helene shows it just off the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as it enters the Gulf of Mexico. The rapidly-strengthening system is expected to strike Florida on Thursday. The bright colors in the center if this infrared image indicate very cold cloud tops created by powerful updrafts reaching the extreme upper portions of the troposphere.

Helene, currently entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to charge north and northeastward as it rapidly intensifies to become a major Hurricane, reaching Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of more than 115 MPH. Some models are predicting "explosive" strengthening of the system.

The center of the storm is expected to stay well west of the Tampa Bay area, with landfall expected in north Florida's Big Bend region.

Area Residents Should Expect a Blow

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Polk County, with wind gusts of 60 mph accompanying squalls. The storm is presently approaching Hurricane strength and is in the 90th percentile in terms of size, so it will cast its very wide wind-field across most of Florida.

Torrential rains will also be possible, but area streams and lakes are well below flood stage, so no major flooding impacts are expected beyond low-lying and flood-prone areas. Sandbags are available at 253 West Central Avenue in Lake Wales, 350 CR 630A in Frostproof, 1061 NE 9th Street in Fort Meade, and 805 Martin Luther King Street SW in Dundee.

All Polk County Public schools, as well as those operated by Lake Wales Charter Schools, will be closed Thursday and Friday, Some damage to electrical infrastructure is possible, although wide-spread power-outages are not expected locally.

Courtesy National Hurricane Centet

The forecast track of Helene, expected to become a Major Hurricane of Category 3 or higher, keeps it well west of the Tampa Bay area, but its broad wind-field will spread across the entire state of Florida.

Area residents can expect damage to weakened trees and some exposed structures, including sheds and carports. Loose objects may become airborne and should be secured before the onset of high winds later today (Wednesday). That includes trash receptacles and other light-weight objects which may be propelled into windows.

The Tropical Storm Warnings and similar forecasts cover virtually all of inland Florida south of near Daytona Beach, with Hurricane watches and warnings covering broad swathes of the west coast and northern part of the state.

Hurricane Season Continues

Helene grew from an area known as the Central American Gyre, a turning in the atmosphere that normally develops each autumn. Lake Wales News alerted readers to the possibility of storm formation in the Gulf 10 days ago based on multiple models we continuously monitor throughout the Hurricane season.

Based on those same models, residents should not let down their guard after the passage of Helene, as there is a significant indication of another storm developing in the same region of the Caribbean in another 10 days.

We will continue to monitor the progress of the storm until its passage, sharing news relevant to the local area.