By Clint Thompson
Southeast specialty crop producers are eyeing a potential storm nearing the Gulf of Mexico that could impact the Southeast later this week.
The potential development of the storm, named Helene, along with its current path means Florida, Georgia and Alabama are all in its crosshairs.
“The whole state of Georgia right now is in the cone. It could go on the west side of the state and affect the southwest and western parts of the state, probably even including Atlanta; or it could go farther to the east and hit the same areas that got hit by Hurricane Debby. Somewhere in the state is going to get hit, I think,” said Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension agricultural climatologist.
“If it moves more across the western part of the cone, then it’s likely that at least Southeastern Alabama will feel some (impact). Usually, they curve off to the Northeast but because of interaction with low pressure, it’s looking like it’s going to move to the northwest. It could actually go across Northeast Alabama.”
Knox said there should be rain in South Georgia Wednesday evening, with winds occurring either Thursday morning or afternoon. A potential hurricane landfall is expected Thursday afternoon.
Hurricane Michael Memories
Helene’s projected trek through the Southeast reminds farmers of hurricanes’ impact this time of year; most notably Hurricane Michael in 2018. It devastated Georgia agriculture, especially cotton and pecans, and moved through the state in early October. Pecan producers are again vulnerable to a storm with high winds and excessive rains on the brink of another harvest season.
“I’m sure people that are farming are thinking about Michael and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, is it going to be like that?’ I don’t think it’s going to be quite that severe. It’s within the realm of possibility, although I don’t think it’s too lightly. We’re going to see some pretty strong wind gusts, even if it’s not like Hurricane Michael,” Knox said. “A Category 2 storm still has some pretty good wind. We do also expect a quite of bit of rain. It could be in some places as much as eight inches. It just depends on how fast the system moves and what the path is.
“Certainly, the potential is there for a storm that could be a major storm; Category 3 or even potentially a Category 4. I think most of the forecasts now are holding it at a Category 2.”