PHOTOS: Hurricane Helene nears Florida as Georgians prepare for storm

South Fulton County

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall as a major storm in Florida, but Atlanta is already getting deluged by rain.

Rainy weather soaks Atlanta on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 even before Hurricane Helene’s anticipated arrival. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hurricane Helene will make landfall tonight

Andre Dickens at Georgia Power storm center

Crowds were thin in the atrium at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 even before Hurricane Helene’s anticipated arrival. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A man walks through the rising floodwaters in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2024. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)

A few cancellations show on the departure board at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 even before Hurricane Helene’s anticipated arrival. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FEMA team members coordinate resources Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. Hurricane Helene will make landfall as a major storm along Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday evening, and its impact will be felt throughout Georgia. As of Thursday morning, the storm is still swirling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a strong Category 1 hurricane with sustained windspeeds of 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. (John Spink/AJC)

Taronda Gibbons (center) talks with Deputy Regional Administrator, Robert Ashe (right) on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. Helene’s relatively quick forward motion means it’s not likely to weaken as quickly over land as past storms. That means it will still be packing tropical storm-force winds — with even more powerful gusts possible — when it moves past Atlanta. -- (Text by Drew Kann/AJC Photo by John Spink/AJC)

Michelle Ellis, left to right, Christopher Schneider and Ashley Johnson coordinate resources on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Helene’s wind field is expected to extend 345 miles from its center. That’s farther than the distance from Atlanta to Savannah and means areas far from the eye will still face damaging winds. Helene’s rain bands will stretch even farther from the center. -- Text by Drew Kann/AJC. (Photo by John Spink/AJC)

Chris Manowski works on storm coordination on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in DeKalb County. Hurricane Helene will make landfall as a major storm along Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday evening, and its impact will be felt throughout Georgia. As of Thursday morning, the storm is still swirling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a strong Category 1 hurricane with sustained windspeeds of 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. (John Spink/AJC)

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The fire department rescued a family on Bohler Road in Atlanta who were on top of their vehicle from swiftly running water.

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