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The eyes of meteorologists and those living along the Gulf Coast are looking south this week, toward the Yucatan Peninsula, as Tropical Storm Helene continues to develop. This is expected to develop into Hurricane Helene as it progresses north into the Gulf of Mexico. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has issued a state of emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival.

Current models by the National Weather Service and NOAA forecast the system developing into a hurricane by Wednesday morning, and is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane by Thursday evening. Major hurricane-force winds of up to 115 mph are possible for coastal Florida counties, and hurricane-force winds may still be felt in further inland areas, including Bainbridge. Excessive rainfall and a moderate risk of flooding are currently expected. Southwest Georgia may receive between 4 to 8 inches of rain. As a result, the City of Bainbridge will be offering sand bags for distribution from the city’s Public Works office, located at 1503 Pierce Street. Due to the weather, the city’s Comprehensive Plan meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed until October 24.

Residents are encouraged to shelter and plan accordingly, as fallen trees and power outages are expected. Having sufficient non-perishable food, back-up power sources, and drinkable water, as well as ensuring cell phones remain charged are all encouraged.

Decatur County Emergency Services are currently monitoring the system as it develops, and will provide live updates via their free Decatur Co EMA application.