Sept. 25, 2024 | 1:34 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center released its 1 p.m. CT update on Hurricane Helene, providing the latest track for the storm, which remains relatively unchanged.
Helene is still projected to make landfall at 6 p.m. CT Thursday as a major hurricane.
Here are the important highlights for Okaloosa County:
- The storm’s track still remains to Okaloosa County’s east, to the point that Okaloosa County is not under any watches or warnings. Tropical Storm Warnings go as far as the Okaloosa/Walton County line.
- No watches or warnings were changed with the latest advisory.
- Okaloosa County District Schools announced schools will be closed for Thursday. The district expects to resume normal operations on Friday.
- Okaloosa County’s coastal areas are under a wind advisory from noon on Thursday until 6 a.m. on Friday, with northwest winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and gusts of 45 miles per hour expected. The locations impacted include Bagdad, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Destin, Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Seminole, Valparaiso and Wright.
- Current estimates from the National Weather Service predict 2 to 4 inches of rain for Okaloosa County.
- The city of Crestview has asked all contractors within the city limits to ensure jobsites are picked up and that items are secure so that they won’t get blown around when the storm hits. “Please secure any items that could become windborne debris and verify that erosion control measures are properly implemented in anticipation of heavy rainfall,” the city said in a Facebook post.
