Hurricane Helene has weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph early Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm continues to weaken while moving farther inland over Georgia, located about 40 miles east of Macon and 100 miles southeast of Atlanta. Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm, causing at least three storm-related deaths.
The storm's eye passed near Valdosta, Georgia, as it moved rapidly north into the state. An extreme wind warning was issued for the area, with possible hurricane-force winds exceeding 115 mph. More than 1.2 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, over 190,000 in Georgia, and more than 30,000 in the Carolinas.
