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Hurricane Helene Local Statement Advisory Number 9
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC AL092024
1135 AM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024
This product covers the western Carolinas and NE Georgia
...HELENE TO BRING SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING AND STRONG WIND
GUSTS TO THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Abbeville, Anderson,
Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Central
Greenville, Cherokee, Cleveland, Eastern McDowell, Eastern
Polk, Elbert, Franklin, Graham, Greater Burke, Greater
Caldwell, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greater Rutherford,
Greenville Mountains, Greenwood, Habersham, Hart, Haywood,
Henderson, Laurens, Macon, Madison, McDowell Mountains,
Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Northern Spartanburg, Oconee
Mountains, Pickens Mountains, Polk Mountains, Rabun, Rutherford
Mountains, Southern Greenville, Southern Jackson, Southern
Spartanburg, Stephens, Swain, Transylvania, Union SC, and Yancey
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Abbeville, Anderson,
Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Central
Greenville, Cherokee, Cleveland, Eastern McDowell, Eastern
Polk, Elbert, Franklin, Graham, Greater Burke, Greater
Caldwell, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greater Rutherford,
Greenville Mountains, Greenwood, Habersham, Hart, Haywood,
Henderson, Laurens, Macon, Madison, McDowell Mountains,
Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Northern Spartanburg, Oconee
Mountains, Pickens Mountains, Polk Mountains, Rabun, Rutherford
Mountains, Southern Greenville, Southern Jackson, Southern
Spartanburg, Stephens, Swain, Transylvania, Union SC, and Yancey
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 950 miles south-southwest of Greenville/Spartanburg SC or
about 990 miles south-southwest of Asheville NC
- 21.6N 86.3W
- Storm Intensity 80 mph
- Movement North-northwest or 330 degrees at 10 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Tropical Storm Helene is expected to make landfall over the Florida
Panhandle Thursday evening and race north into Georgia and the western
Carolinas. Significant flash flooding and mainstem flooding is likely
Thursday into early Friday, especially along the Blue Ridge
Escarpment. 40-50 MPH wind gusts will be associated with Helene as the
storm tracks just west of the County Warning Area Thursday night into
Friday morning. The combination of saturated soils and strong wind
gusts will result in numerous trees down, leading to numerous power
outages. Numerous landslides may occur across the mountains, with a
couple of large, damaging debris flows/slope failures. An isolated
tornado or two can't be ruled out during this event as well.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
devastating impacts across the North Carolina mountains, northeast
Georgia, and Upstate South Carolina. Potential impacts include:
- Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and
rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks
in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks,
canals, arroyos, and ditches may become raging rivers. In
mountain areas, deadly runoff may rage down valleys while
increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood
control systems and barriers may become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water with
underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very dangerous.
Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed
out.
* WIND:
Prepare for hazardous wind having significant impacts across the North
Carolina mountains, northeast Georgia, and Upstate South Carolina.
Potential impacts in this area include:
- Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored
mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
- Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or
uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are
shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.
- A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or
heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges
and other elevated roadways.
- Scattered power and communications outages.
Elsewhere across the western Carolinas and NE Georgia, little to no
impact is anticipated.
* TORNADOES:
Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across the
western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Potential impacts include:
- The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
and communications disruptions.
- Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
pulled from moorings.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies
kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your
home or business.
When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the
exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging
wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the
center of the storm.
If you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as
near the ocean or a large inland lake, in a low-lying or poor
drainage area, in a valley, or near an already swollen river, plan to
move to safe shelter on higher ground.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
-----------
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Greenville-Spartanburg SC around 5 PM EDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.
$$
