What to expect as Hurricane Helene swipes Tampa Bay

• Rain will fall on and off, with totals projected at 3-6 inches, Anderson said. That's about half of what Tropical Storm Debby dumped in August but still enough to cause flooding in a region already saturated by summer storms.
• And storm surge — the biggest threat — has already begun, with peak levels projected for sometime tonight, Anderson said.

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By the numbers: Forecasters predict a surge of up to 8 feet in Tampa Bay and along the coasts of Pinellas, Manatee and north Sarasota counties.

Threat level: That will be enough to breach seawalls and flood streets and possibly some homes in low-lying areas, University of South Florida physical oceanography professor emeritus Robert Weisberg told Axios.

• Surge will likely be higher at the north end of Tampa Bay — along Safety Harbor, Oldsmar and Town 'N' Country — than at the beaches, Weisberg said.

• Storm surge threats persist inland, too, along rivers influenced by tides, Anderson said.
• Severe flooding is expected along the Alafia River in southeast Hillsborough County, he said, and several more rivers will likely rise to lesser degrees.

The bottom line: Heed orders from government officials to evacuate or, once conditions deteriorate, shelter in place.