Most Forsyth County Government Offices Will Reopen at Noon, Friday, Sept. 27 

UPDATE: Due to a loss of power, the Central Park Recreation Center will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27.

 All general Forsyth County offices will reopen at noon on Friday, Sept. 27. This includes:

• County government offices

• Recycling convenience centers

• Senior Services facilities (However, all Friday programs and activities have been canceled.)

• Parks & Recreation indoor facilities, except the Central Park Recreation Center, which is currently without power. We are evaluating outdoor Parks & Recreation parks, facilities and programs and will issue an update regarding their status later today.

• Pet Resource Center, which will only be open to animal intake on Friday. Pet adoptions and regular business operations will resume Saturday, Sept. 28.

Thank you to all the crews and employees who worked through the night to prepare for and mitigate impacts of the storm!

Road Closures and Hazards Related to Helene

Road hazards, closures, downed powerlines/trees and other road information can be found via the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office interactive map, on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page and below. 

Sept. 27, 6:00 a.m. - National Weather Service Update 

Conditions may have seemed "quiet" overnight compared to initial forecasts, but there concern remains for bands of heavy rainfall setting up and dumping 2-4 inches (on top of rain that's already fallen) and leading to localized flash flooding through mid-to-late morning in Forsyth County.

Sept. 27, 3:30 a.m. - Video Update from Emergency Operations Center

National Weather Service - Storm Appears to be Tracking East

Sept. 27, 2:20 a.m. - While radar trends suggest that Helene is taking a slightly more eastward path than forecast, ALL of north and central Georgia should remain prepared for heavy rainfall, significant flash flooding, and strong winds.

National Weather Service Update - Storm Crosses into Georgia

Sept. 27, 1:00 a.m. - Helene made landfall as a Category 4 near the Big Bend region of Florida around 11 p.m. As the storm moves quickly inland overnight, conditions will begin to deteriorate over central and north Georgia.

- Additional heavy rain will lead to dangerous, potentially life-threatening instances of flash flooding and river flooding.

- Tropical storm force and hurricane force winds will bring down numerous trees and cause power outages.

- The threat for quickly developing, short-lived tornadoes will remain in east-central Georgia.

Below reflects the total rainfall on Wednesday, Sept. 26 (before Helene entered Georgia):

Flash Flood Warning

Sept. 26, 9:25 p.m. - The National Weather Services has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Southwestern Forsyth County until 3:15 a.m. Stay off the roads tonight when possible. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles

National Weather Service Update

Sept. 26, 8:15 p.m. - Hurricane Helene is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane later this evening. Conditions will deteriorate across north and central Georgia this evening and last through Friday.

- Hurricane Warnings have been expanded further northward with this update. In addition to tropical storm force winds, a few locations as far north as the ATL metro and high terrain in the northeast GA mountains could see hurricane force wind gusts.

-  A High Risk for excessive rainfall will pose dangerous and potentially life-threatening instances of flash flooding and river flooding for most of the forecast area overnight through Friday morning. Please use extreme caution if you are on the roadways. 

- Fast moving spin-up tornadoes will be possible overnight, especially on the eastern side of Helene. Be prepared to act quickly if a tornado warning is issued for your area.

Sept. 26, 7:45 p.m. - Tips and Information from EMA/911

Emergency Operation Center Activated