Events and flights canceled, clinics closed as Hurricane Helene approaches Georgia
This story was updated on Sept. 26 at 6:53 p.m.
Flights to and from Atlanta and major events around the metro area have been canceled and clinics have shuttered their doors as Hurricane Helene approaches the Gulf Coast and Georgia.
A tropical storm warming was issued for Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon, and the National Weather Service is forecasting tropical storm-force winds into Friday. A flood watch is also in effect with a potentially “devastating to catastrophic” impact from extreme rainfall. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Tuesday.
Many metro Atlanta school districts have canceled or altered school classes, events and extracurricular activities. For school closures, click here.
Flight cancellations
Of the flights coming out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Thursday, around 95 have been canceled and around 240 have been delayed, according to FlightAware. Of flights arriving at the Atlanta airport Thursday, around 110 flights have been canceled and 250 flights have been delayed.
Delta Air Lines has issued an advisory for flights coming to, through or from Atlanta on Friday. It has advised flyers to check flight status frequently in case changes occur to their travel plans.
Should your flight be impacted and you need to rebook your travel, Delta will waive fare differences between the original flight ticket and the rebooked flight if your flight is rebooked on or before Oct. 1 in the same cabin of service.
Clinic closures
Grady Hospital will remain open and operational regardless of the weather, but all of Grady’s clinics and neighborhood health centers will be closed Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. Grady is also canceling elective and non-urgent procedures originally scheduled for Friday.
Fulton County Board of Health Clinics will close on Thursday at 2 p.m. and will remain closed on Friday. Fulton County Vital Records offices will only have online services during that time.
Event cancellations
Thursday, Sept. 26
North Georgia State Fair @ Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center — closed
Movies on the Lawn @ Gas South Arena — canceled
Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets @ Truist Park — postponed
Come Get This Joy! @ The Midtown Art Walk — canceled
Keith Sweat, Pretty Ricky Make It Last Forever concert @ State Farm Arena — canceled
Atlanta Track Club Beltline Run Club @ Westside Motor Lounge — canceled
Bill Foege Global Health Awards @ Delta Flight Museum — postponed
Alpharetta Food Truck Alley @ Old Roswell Street — postponed
Disney on Ice @ Gas South Arena — canceled
Khruangbin concert @ The Fox Theatre — canceled
Nathalie Stutzmann concert @ Atlanta Symphony Hall — canceled
Starletta concert @ Center Stage (Vinyl) — postponed
Jesus Aguaje Ramos concert @ Center Stage — postponed
Out On Film festival — 2 films rescheduled
“Rent” @ The Atlanta Opera — postponed
Friday, Sept. 27
North Georgia State Fair @ Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center — closed
Party for Piedmont Park @ Piedmont Park – in-person events — canceled
Georgia Latino International Film Festival @ Gas South Arena — postponed
Sen. JD Vance appearances in Macon and Flowery Branch — canceled
HSFA Annual Scientific Meeting (Sept. 27-30) — canceled
High Museum of Art — closed
Saturday, Sept. 28
AIDS Walk Atlanta Music Festival and 5k Run @ Piedmont Park — postponed
Autism Speaks Walk @ The Battery Atlanta — postponed
This is a developing story.
WABE’s Jess Mador and Patrick Saunders contributed to this report.
Correction: The original date of one of the Mets-Braves games was misidentified. In fact, the games were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.