Helene lashes Florida and Georgia after coming ashore as Category 4 storm

One person was killed in Florida when a sign fell on their car and two people were reported killed in a possible tornado in south Georgia as the storm approached

The St Pete Pier is pictured among high winds and waves as Hurricane Helene makes its way towards the Florida panhandle Picture: Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via AP

Authorities have rescued people trapped by floodwaters and millions of customers were in the dark across much of the southeastern US as Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia after making landfall overnight in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm.

Helene came ashore amid warnings from the National Hurricane Centre that the enormous system could create a “nightmare” storm surge.