After slamming Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm on Thursday night, Helene is now making its way north and into Georgia and the Carolinas.The once monstrous system has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center said, but it still producing "historic and catastrophic" flooding over portions of the southeast and southern Appalachians.According to the NHC's 11 a.m. advisory, Helene is 30 miles southwest of Bryson City, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and a minimum central pressure of 975 mb.This is a major downgrade from Helene's previous status. At 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, the massive system made landfall near Perry, Florida with wind speeds of at least 140 mph, making it an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm.Though Helene is expected to weaken as it moves toward the Tennessee Valley, the NHC says some severe weather is still a concern. A flash flood emergency was issued for metropolitan Atlanta, and many locations are still reporting wind gusts over 60 mph.Below: Latest Helene forecast>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2Helene is expected to become a post-tropical low on Friday afternoon or night.Helene watches, warnings A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Savannah River northward to Little River InletMore: Difference between tropical storm, hurricane watch and warningHelene impacts in Central FloridaAs outer bands from Helene worked across the state Thursday evening and into Friday morning, every county in Central Florida remained under a tornado watch.In many counties like Brevard and Volusia, the bands were strong enough to spark up a few tornado warnings — but those have since expired. The National Weather Service originally extended the area-wide tornado watch, but those have also been discontinued.>> Severe weather threat decreasing in Central Florida as Helene lifts northCentral Florida residents also experienced heavy rain and gusty winds as Helene made landfall and worked across the state.On Friday, the impacts from Helene should be less severe, but Central Florida should be aware of outer bands still spinning through the area. Throughout the weekend, surf could also be very rough.All tropical advisories have been discontinued in Central Florida as of the NHC's 8 a.m. advisory.>> Download the WESH 2 app>> See power outage reports across Central FloridaFirst Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

After slamming Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm on Thursday night, Helene is now making its way north and into Georgia and the Carolinas.

The once monstrous system has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center said, but it still producing "historic and catastrophic" flooding over portions of the southeast and southern Appalachians.

Advertisement

According to the NHC's 11 a.m. advisory, Helene is 30 miles southwest of Bryson City, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and a minimum central pressure of 975 mb.

This is a major downgrade from Helene's previous status. At 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, the massive system made landfall near Perry, Florida with wind speeds of at least 140 mph, making it an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm.

Though Helene is expected to weaken as it moves toward the Tennessee Valley, the NHC says some severe weather is still a concern. A flash flood emergency was issued for metropolitan Atlanta, and many locations are still reporting wind gusts over 60 mph.

Below: Latest Helene forecast

>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

Helene is expected to become a post-tropical low on Friday afternoon or night.

Helene watches, warnings

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

Savannah River northward to Little River Inlet

More: Difference between tropical storm, hurricane watch and warning

Helene impacts in Central Florida

As outer bands from Helene worked across the state Thursday evening and into Friday morning, every county in Central Florida remained under a tornado watch.

In many counties like Brevard and Volusia, the bands were strong enough to spark up a few tornado warnings — but those have since expired. The National Weather Service originally extended the area-wide tornado watch, but those have also been discontinued.

>> Severe weather threat decreasing in Central Florida as Helene lifts north

Central Florida residents also experienced heavy rain and gusty winds as Helene made landfall and worked across the state.

On Friday, the impacts from Helene should be less severe, but Central Florida should be aware of outer bands still spinning through the area. Throughout the weekend, surf could also be very rough.

All tropical advisories have been discontinued in Central Florida as of the NHC's 8 a.m. advisory.

>> Download the WESH 2 app

>> See power outage reports across Central Florida

First Warning Weather

Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

Radar

Severe Weather Alerts

Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.

The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.