Deadly Helene downgraded to tropical storm after making landfall in Florida: What to expect Friday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Helene continues to weaken and is now a tropical storm after it made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday night as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, unleashing deadly effects on the Southeast including destructive hurricane-force wind gusts, an "unsurvivable" storm surge and torrential, flooding rain.

At least two people have reportedly been killed because of the storm in Wheeler County, Georgia, after a mobile home was damaged during one of the many Tornado Warnings that were issued. According to a report from FOX 5 in Atlanta, a third death in Georgia is also being investigated after reports of a vehicle that crashed into a tree in Colquitt County.

And at least one person was killed in Florida after a crash on Interstate 4 in the Tampa area that involved a highway sign on top of a vehicle. 

Helene made landfall about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida, at 11:10 p.m. ET Thursday, and impacts have been felt across the Southeast and into portions of the mid-Atlantic as the monster storm pushed farther inland and began to weaken.

While wind does remain a concern, the greatest threat from Helene continues to be the flash flooding as torrential rain falls across the region, sending rivers and streams out of their banks, onto roads and into communities, trapping residents.

The flash flood threat stretches from the Southeast into the mid-Atlantic, where multiple Flash Flood Emergencies were issued early Friday morning. One was issued for Hawyood County in western North Carolina, and another was issued in Buncombe County, including the city of Asheville, North Carolina.

According to a post on X from Haywood County Emergency Services, residents in portions of Waynesville, North Carolina, are being told to evacuate because of the potentially deadly situation that's unfolding.

"Leave now," officials said. "Climb to higher ground. Do not drive through the water."

Local officials also said that emergency sirens in town have been sounded to alert people of the potential danger as torrential rain continues to fall, leading to the widespread flooding.

Officials are urging people to avoid the area until further notice.

Water rescues underway in Florida, Georgia

Countless emergency crews from Florida to Georgia are responding to reports of people being trapped in their homes and vehicles as rivers and streams rapidly rise due to the flooding from relentless rain that has been pounding the region.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, first responders have so far responded to more than 100 water rescue calls and have rescued at least 65 people with additional water rescues ongoing.

In Georgia, FOX 5 Atlanta reports fire crews are using boats to rescue families trapped by floodwaters in their homes near Peachtree Creek in northwest Atlanta.

Evacuations have also been ordered for some residents in Sandy Springs, Georgia, near Nancy Creek, and officials have told people to seek higher ground immediately because of the rapidly rising water.

A dramatic rescue was also captured live on FOX Weather early Friday morning in Atlanta.

Cameras were rolling when several residents and pets were being directed to safety after flooding was reported, and the video shows a woman with a baby strapped to her chest being led out of the water to dry ground.

Power outages climb as Helene's winds pummel Florida, Georgia

Power outages climbed to about 1.3 million in Florida early Friday morning after wind gusts neared or even exceeded hurricane-force strength. A 99-mph wind gust was reported in Perry, Florida, about 10 miles from where Hurricane Helene made landfall. St. Petersburg recorded an 82 mph gust, while Sarasota saw a 74-mph wind gust. 

Significant outages are also being reported in Georgia, where over 800,000 customers were without power early Friday morning. Winds have gusted as high as 100 mph in Alma, 88 mph in Valdosta and 76 mph in Savannah.

FOX Weather's Ian Oliver said the surge quickly submerged streets around St. Pete Beach on Thursday evening when high tide was still several hours away.

And farther south in a community called Sunset Beach, local fire rescue said it would no longer respond to calls for service due to the flooding.

Clearwater Beach reported its highest surge since at least the Superstorm of 1993, with a level of more than 7 feet.

TRACKING HURRICANE HELENE: LIVE FORECAST CONE, SPAGHETTI MODELS, ALERTS, WIND PROJECTIONS AND MORE

Storm surge remained a dire threat during the system's trek up the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Because of the storm's massive size, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Helene brought a significant risk of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida’s Big Bend region.

The highest inundation, with as much as 20 feet of storm surge flooding, was expected from Carrabelle to the Suwannee River in Florida. Other locations like Apalachicola and Chassahowitzka were expected to see 10-15 feet of storm surge.

"A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves," the NHC warned.  The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called the expected storm surge into Apalachee Bay "catastrophic and potentially unsurvivable."

Helene's impacts to be felt far inland

Helene's impact will be felt well beyond the coastal area of the Big Bend, with hurricane-force gusts likely across Tallahassee and into Georgia as the storm races inland through Friday morning. The storm's combination of speed and size means it will hold its strength farther inland than most hurricanes.

Within an hour of landfall, Helene was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, but its impacts are expected to last many more days.

Several inches of rain will create widespread and potentially catastrophic flash flooding across the Southeast.

During the hurricane, the Florida Highway Patrol reported responding to a serious crash along Interstate 4 in Tampa with a fatality.

In a Florida Department of Transportation video, a highway sign appeared to be dislodged and lying on a car.

Troopers have not revealed what they believe caused the crash but encouraged residents to simply stay home until the worst of the weather exits the region.

Get updates to this story on FOXWeather.com.