Flight level winds now 97 knots in the western side of Helene as recon approaches the eye, that's a marked increase from precious recon missions and shows that the storm is a bit more symmetrical now.
70 mph gust was just recorded in downtown St Petersburg with some of the outer bands moving through now. Not bad considering the storm's distance from them.
I'm in central Staten Island, it looks like the line really consolidated as it neared the eastern part of the borough and Brooklyn.
Best is still near coastal NJ (from Asbury Park southward)