Video above: Tracking the Tropics | A look back at the 2024 hurricane season TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- The National Hurricane Center on Wednesday released its tropical cyclone report for Hurricane Helene. The major storm made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on Sept. 26, 2024, be fore going on to devastate Appalachia. It was "the deadliest hurricane in the contiguous U.S. since Katrina in 2005," according to the NHC. ‘Deathly dangerous’: Florida Democrats warn against job cuts at NOAA ahead of hurricane season At least 248 deaths were attributed to Helene in the U.S., which includes at least 175 direct fatalities. Thirty-four total deaths were reported in Florida. Helene produced devastating storm surge along the Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area. Analyzed storm surge inundation (feet above ground level) along the coast of Florida from Hurricane Helene. Helene’s track is overlaid (black line). (NHC) Here is what the NHC had to say about coastal Tampa Bay counties: Citrus County "In Citrus County, storm surge inundated at least 300 homes in Crystal River and Homosassa Springs with water up to five feet deep inside homes, and crews rescued 85 people and pets from the floodwaters." Hernando County "In Hernando County, at least 500 homes suffered major damage, mostly from storm surgeflooding along the barrier islands and immediate coast, and 18 people were rescued from thefloodwaters." Pasco County "In Pasco County, first responders had to make 200 high water rescues from coastal areas due to storm surge, and at least 9,900 structures suffered damage, the majority of which were due to storm surge flooding in coastal parts of the county." Pinellas and Hillsborough counties "In Pinellas County, 12 people drowned in the surge. Media reports indicate that nine of these 12 victims were located on the barrier islands on Pinellas County’s west coast from St. Pete Beach to Indian Rocks Beach, two were in St. Petersburg and one was in Dunedin. Two storm-surge related fatalities were reported in Hillsborough County." "Helene destroyed at least 419 homes in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties combined, and at least 18,512 structures suffered major damage, with at least 13,909 others reporting minor or moderate damage." Manatee County "In Manatee County, Anna Maria Island was heavily damaged by storm surge. Media reports and estimates from emergency managers indicate that 90 to 95 percent of the structures on Bradenton Beach were destroyed by Helene’s storm surge. At least 594 structures were destroyed in mainland Manatee County. An additional 1,699 homes and commercial buildingsreported major damage with 2,177 more reporting minor or moderate damage." Sarasota County "Helene’s storm surge damaged numerous structures in Sarasota County’s coastal areas, where dozens of rescues took place during the storm." NHC official track forecasts (blue lines) from 1200 UTC 23 August to 1800 UTC 27 August. The best track is depicted by the black line with symbols in red depicting positions typically at 6 h intervals. (NHC) The NHC said Helene was "more difficult to forecast than normal" as indicated by "larger than average ... track errors." Most of the NHC forecast tracks were just a bit off from the exact path Helene took. "Most of the NHC forecasts were biased slightly west for the landfall and overland portion of Helene’s actual track over the southeastern United States," the report said. Hurricane season is less than 100 days away: Here are the names The report said the NHC correctly predicted Helene's rapid intensification as it approached the Gulf Coast. Rapid intensification is defined as a 30 kt or greater increase in the maximum sustained wind speed within a 24 hour period. "Additionally, the second advisory (issued at 2100 UTC 23 September) on the potential tropical cyclone that became Helene marked the first time that NHC forecast a disturbance to become a major hurricane before the system became a tropical cyclone," the report said. ...read more read less