ATLANTA - While most of the Atlanta metro and surrounding areas experienced significant flooding from heavy rainfall, the city saw relatively little of the tropical storm-force winds that many expected from Hurricane Helene.

City and state officials are preparing for flash floods, heavy winds and downed trees as Hurricane Helene, a massive and potentially historic storm, plows through south Georgia and into Atlanta. Why it matters: National Weather Service forecasters say the storm will drop intense amounts of rain — possibly over a foot in some areas — and unleash powerful,