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Undid revision 1256455912 by Itspronouncedhaych (talk) not at peak nor was it a Category 4 when the image was taken |
Undid revision 1256474755 by Drdpw (talk) — Split article for conspiracy theories + the news of FEMA actually ignoring people makes it lead worthy. Gain a consensus for it to not be in the lead. |
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The eighth [[Tropical cyclone naming|named storm]], fifth [[Atlantic hurricane|hurricane]], and second [[Saffir–Simpson scale#Categories|major hurricane]] of the [[2024 Atlantic hurricane season]], Helene began forming on September 22 as a broad low pressure system in the western [[Caribbean Sea]].<ref name="beginning" /> By September 24, the disturbance had consolidated enough to become a tropical storm as it approached the [[Yucatán Peninsula]], receiving the name ''Helene'' from the [[National Hurricane Center]]. Weather conditions led to the cyclone's intensification, and it became a hurricane early on September 25. More pronounced and [[rapid intensification]] ensued as Helene traversed the [[Gulf of Mexico]] the following day, reaching Category 4 intensity on the evening of September 26. Late on September 26, Helene made [[landfall]] at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida, near the city of [[Perry, Florida|Perry]], with [[maximum sustained wind]]s of 140 mph (220 km/h). Helene weakened as it moved quickly inland before degenerating to a [[post-tropical cyclone]] over [[Tennessee]] on September 27. The storm then stalled over the state before dissipating on September 29.
In advance of Helene's expected landfall, [[state of emergency|states of emergency]] were declared in [[Florida]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] due to the significant impacts expected, including very high [[storm surge]] along the coast and hurricane-force gusts as far inland as [[Atlanta]]. [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches|Hurricane warnings]] also extended further inland due to Helene's fast motion. The storm caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered [[flooding]], particularly in [[western North Carolina]], [[East Tennessee]], and [[Southwest Virginia|southwestern Virginia]], and spawned numerous [[tornado]]es. Helene also inundated [[Tampa Bay]], breaking [[storm surge]] records throughout the area. As of November 6, at least 233 deaths and nearly $88 billion in damage has been attributed to the storm.
As a result of Helene, there was large-scale conspiracy theories were started by politicians and [[Artificial intelligence art|A.I.-generated]] images spread around social media.
==Meteorological history==
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