Helene latest: Live updates from Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas

null - Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia Friday morning after making landfall in northwest Florida as a Category 4 storm with a "nightmare" storm surge. 

At least 30 deaths have been reported in four states as floodwaters trapped people and left more than 4 million customers without power across the southeastern U.S.

Catastrophic flooding remains a big threat for the region. Areas from northern Georgia into the southern Appalachians are expected to get the worst of it Friday. Flash flood warnings were also issued in parts of Tennessee. 

Helene impacts in Georgia

Helene caused at least 11 deaths in Georgia and prompted the first-ever Flash Flood Emergency for downtown Atlanta.

At least two people were killed in Wheeler County, Georgia, after a mobile home was damaged during a tornado. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, a third death in Georgia is also being investigated after reports of a vehicle that crashed into a tree in Colquitt County.

Gov. Brad Kemp announced more deaths during a press conference Friday, but said they are waiting until next of kin are notified before releasing more information. One of the deaths was a firefighter in Pierce County, reports say. 

More flooding is expected in northern Georgia Friday as an electrical utility group warned of "catastrophic" damage to Georgia’s utility infrastructure by Hurricane Helene.

The Georgia Electric Membership Corp., which represents the state’s electric cooperatives, says that the hurricane damaged more than 100 high-voltage transmission lines and that more than 60 substations were out of service Friday morning.

Without transmission lines and substations, the cooperatives can’t feed electricity to homes and businesses. The group warned Friday that "there will be extensive delays in total restoration" and told customers, especially those who rely on electric power for medical needs, to make temporary arrangements.

Of the more than 1 million Georgia electricity customers without power on Friday afternoon, more than 400,000 were customers of cooperatives. Restoration for customers of those utilities in rural areas can take much longer because customers are far apart.

Hurricane Helene landfall

Hurricane Helene made landfall at 11:10 p.m. Eastern time Thursday night about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida. That’s in the state’s sparsely populated Big Bend region, about 20 miles northwest of where Hurricane Idalia came ashore last year at nearly the same ferocity and caused widespread damage. 

Helene struck as a Category 4 with sustained winds of 140 mph. 

Flooding along Florida's coast began well before Hurricane Helene made landfall, with rapidly rising waters reported from as far south as Fort Myers on the state's Gulf Coast.

Evacuation orders remained in effect Friday morning across parts of several Florida counties due to storm surge and flooding.

Hurricane Helene in Tampa, St. Petersburg

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

Tidal gauges in the Tampa Bay area reached record high levels as Helene came ashore. 

Hundreds of people were rescued from floodwaters in coastal areas of Tampa Bay, FOX 13 in Tampa reports. 

Residents of nearby St. Petersburg said they’ve never seen flooding like this. 

According to FOX Weather, at least seven deaths have been reported in Florida. 

Helene hits North Carolina

Evacuations were underway Friday morning in areas of Western North Carolina. The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office west of Asheville said it was helping with evacuations in in Cruso, Clyde, Canton and lower-lying parts of Waynesville.

At least two deaths have been reported. In Charlotte, North Carolina, firefighters say a tree fell onto a home, trapping two people inside. One of the victims was taken to a local hospital, and the second victim was found dead inside the home. Details about the other death have not been released. Gov. Roy Cooper said he expects more deaths to be reported. 

Close to 300 roads were closed and over 100 swift-water rescues had occurred so far, Cooper said.

The storm, particularly in western North Carolina, is causing life-threatening flash flooding, numerous landslides and power outages from downed trees.

At least seven Flash Flood Emergencies were issued in western North Carolina from Asheville to the Charlotte area.

Helene in South Carolina

At least nine people have died in South Carolina from the winds and rains of Hurricane Helene, authorities said.

Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger reported three deaths happened Friday morning. He did not release additional details.

Four deaths have already been reported in Aiken County and two deaths in Anderson County.

Other storms to watch

Forecasters said Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened on Friday into a hurricane in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and could cause dangerous waves in parts of Bermuda.

Hours after Hurricane Helene made landfall, Tropical Storm Joyce formed over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, becoming the tenth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Two new disturbances are also brewing in the Atlantic, FOX 35 Orlando reports. Both systems are expected to form sometime next week, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The system of greatest concern is currently located in the western Caribbean Sea, near the same area where Helene initially formed. Forecasters predict that an area of low pressure could develop there by the middle of next week.

A second area of low pressure is forecast to form over the tropical Atlantic by early to mid-next week. Weather conditions should favor slow development as it tracks northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. This system has a 20% chance of development within the next seven days.