Tropical Storm Helene was expected to build into a major hurricane by the time it comes ashore Thursday/National Hurricane Center

Editor's note: This adds portions of Gulf Islands National Seashore and closures in areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Ocmulgee Mounts National Historical Park, Congaree National Park, and national park sites in Georgia and South Carolina to areas of the National Park System closing in advance of Helene, as well as Helene's status.

Tropical Storm Helene has now weakened to a tropical depression, moving north across the Southeast. The National Hurricane Center reports Helene is producing "catastrophic flooding over portions of the southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley."

Prior to Helene's landfall, Cumberland Island National Seashore on the Georgia coast closed, as did portions of Gulf Islands National Seashore on the Mississippi-Florida coast. Fort Pulaski National Monument, despite its location on the Georgia coast to the east of the main storm track, planned to close Wednesday at noon, and portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia initiated closures Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Fort Frederica National Monument on the coast of Florida closed Thursday "due to predicted rainfall, winds, increased chance of tornadoes and flooding conditions from this storm. Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee implemented closures as well.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Georgia closed on Thursday as did Congaree National Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, all in South Carolina.

"A mandatory evacuation is in place," the park staff at Cumberland Island said. "All campers, visitors, staff, and volunteers must depart the island on the 2:45 p.m. or 4:45 p.m. boats on Tuesday, September 24. The last boat departing the island is at 4:45 p.m. from the Sea Camp dock."

At Gulf Islands, officials said the Fort Pickens and Okaloosa Areas closed to day use at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Fort Pickens area, including the campground was to close effective 12 p.m. on Wednesday, with reservations cancelled through and including Friday. Additionally, the seashore staff said the Pensacola Bay City Ferry cancelled the Thursday Sunset Cruise and the Friday Ferry Service, returning Friday in time for the 5:30 p.m. Sunset Cruise.

Until further notice, the rest of visitor use areas within the Gulf Islands' Florida District were to remain open for day use. 

At Blue Ridge Parkway, based on expected periods of heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong wind, and the projected course of the storm over the next several days, closures began on Wednesday afternoon and are continuing. Closures include:

• Milepost 217 - 314 from the NC state line to Linville Falls.
• Milepost 314 - 375.6 from north of Linville Falls to Ox Creek.
• Milepost 375 – 393 from Ox Creek to NC 191/Brevard Road.
• Milepost 393 - 455 from the NC191/French Broad overlook to Soco Gap.
• Linville Falls Campground at milepost 316.4 and Pisgah Campground at milepost 408.8 will be closed as of Thursday morning, September 26, 2024. Reservation holders will be notified.
• Linville Falls Visitor Center at milepost 316, Craggy Gardens Visitor Center at milepost 364, and Waterrock Knob Visitor Center at milepost 451.2 will be closed. 

• Doughton Park Campground and Picnic Area at milepost 239 & 241 and Price Park Campground and Picnic Area at milepost 296.9. Reservation holders will be notified.
• Doughton Park Visitor Center at milepost 241.1, Moses Cone Manor House at milepost 294, the Minerals Museum at milepost 330.9, and the Asheville Visitor Center at milepost 384.

• The Pisgah Inn at milepost 408.6 is only accessible via Hwy 276.
• The Folk Art Center at milepost 382 is accessible via US-70.

These severe weather closures are full closures to all public use. Closures are expected to remain in place until the storm passes, and staff can safely assess the park and clear any storm damage. The park will issue updates when they are available. 

Great Smoky Mountains is implementing or already has implemented the following closures:

• Newfound Gap Road/US Highway 441 will close Thursday at 2 p.m. 
• Parson Branch Road remains closed due to Flint Gap Fire impacts.
• Little River Road from Elkmont to the Townsend Wye & Wear Cove Gap Road
• Lake View Drive
• All visitor centers
• Balsam Mountain, Cataloochee, and Big Creek campgrounds
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Cataloochee Valley roads including Hwy 284
• Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga/Round Bottom/Straight Fork)
• Heintooga Ridge Road
• Big Creek Entrance Road
• Greenbrier area and roads
• Upper Tremont Road
• The Deep Creek between Indian Creek Bridge and park boundary (closed to all water activity)

The park has received over 8 inches of rain at Newfound Gap and an additional 2-4 inches are possible. Flash flooding is possible. 

Dry Tortugas National Park south of the Florida Keys remained open, but visitor and emergency services were limited. Boaters were allowed to take safe harbor in the 1 nautical mile anchor zone around Garden Key.