News and Weather Briefing for Thursday, September 26, 2024 Macon County Under Tropical Storm Warning

A tropical system is expected to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico today as it tracks northward. This system will impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia today and Friday, bringing gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to the area.

Macon County is under multiple weather advisories. They are posted below for your convenience:

Hurricane Helene Local Statement Advisory Number 11 National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC AL092024 1109 PM 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:
– None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
– A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Abbeville, Anderson, Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Catawba, Central Greenville, Cherokee, Chester, Cleveland, Eastern McDowell, Eastern Polk, Elbert, Franklin, Gaston, Graham, Greater Burke, Greater Caldwell, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greater Rutherford, Greenville Mountains, Greenwood, Habersham, Hart, Haywood, Henderson, Laurens, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell Mountains, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Northern Spartanburg, Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, Polk Mountains, Rabun, Rutherford Mountains, Southern Greenville, Southern Jackson, Southern Spartanburg, Stephens, Swain, Transylvania, Union NC, Union SC, Yancey, and York

* STORM INFORMATION:
– About 860 miles south-southwest of Greenville/Spartanburg SC or about 900 miles south-southwest of Asheville NC
– 23.1N 86.6W
– Storm Intensity 85 mph
– Movement North or 360 degrees at 9 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
——————
Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall over the Florida Panhandle Thursday evening and race north across Georgia. Significant flash flooding and mainstem river flooding is expected Thursday into early Friday, especially along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph 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 widespread trees down, leading to numerous power outages. Numerous landslides may occur across the mountains, with a couple of large, damaging debris flows or slope failures. Isolated tornadoes will be possible during this event as well.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
—————–

* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against 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:
Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across most of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Potential impacts 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.

* TORNADOES:
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts across the western Carolinas and NE 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
———————————-

* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.

It is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter.

Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Remember, turn around don`t drown!

If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.

* 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

Tropical Storm Warning
Helene Local Watch/Warning Statement/Advisory Number 11
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC AL092024
1059 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

…TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT…

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
– Franklin

* WIND
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
– Peak Wind Forecast: 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph

– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for wind 39 to 57 mph
– The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
– PLAN: Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm force.
– PREPARE: Remaining efforts to protect property should be completed as soon as possible. Prepare for limited wind damage.
– ACT: Move to safe shelter before the wind becomes hazardous.

– POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited
– 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.

* FLOODING RAIN
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Flood Watch is in effect
– Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 8-12 inches, with locally higher amounts

– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for extreme flooding rain
– The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
– PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for extreme flooding from heavy rain. Evacuations and rescues are likely.
– PREPARE: Urgently consider protective actions from extreme and widespread rainfall flooding.
– ACT: Heed any flood watches and warnings. Failure to take action will likely result in serious injury or loss of life.

– POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Devastating to Catastrophic
– 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.

* TORNADO
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
– Situation is unfavorable for tornadoes

– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Tornadoes not expected
– The tornado threat has decreased from the previous assessment.
– PLAN: Tornadoes are not expected. Showers and thunderstorms with gusty winds may still occur.
– PREPARE: Little to no preparations needed to protect against tornadoes at this time. Keep informed of the latest tornado situation.
– ACT: Listen for changes in the forecast.

– POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Little to None
– Little to no potential impacts from tornadoes.

* FOR MORE INFORMATION:
– https://readync.org

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
714 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…

* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

* WHERE…Portions of northeast Georgia, including the following area, Rabun, western North Carolina, including the following areas, Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Polk Mountains, Rutherford Mountains, Southern Jackson, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey, and upstate South Carolina, including the following areas, Greenville Mountains, Oconee Mountains and Pickens Mountains.

* WHEN…Through Friday afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in significant and damaging flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Areas that are not typically impacted by floodwaters may flood. Numerous landslides are possible in areas of steep terrain. A couple of large, damaging debris flows are possible.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are expected due to the interaction of tropical moisture along a stationary front, followed by the passage of Tropical Storm Helene. Storm-total rainfall of 10-15 inches with locally higher amounts is expected along the entire length of the Blue Ridge Escarpment with widespread 5-9 inches expected across the remainder of the mountains. This has the potential to be an extremely rare event with dangerous catastrophic flash-flooding along numerous streams.
– http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flood Watch for flash flooding means there is a potential for rapid onset flooding based on current forecasts. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation and may impact areas that do not typically flood. Please monitor the latest forecasts and be prepared to take action quickly should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Rainfall of more than five inches in similar storms has been associated with an increased risk of landslides and rockslides. If you live on a mountainside or in a cove at the base of a mountain, especially near a stream, be ready to leave in advance of the storm or as quickly as possible should rising water, moving earth, or rocks threaten. Consider postponing travel along mountain roads during periods of heavy rainfall.

Low-lying areas adjacent to streams, including campgrounds, are especially vulnerable to flooding. If you live or are vacationing next to a stream, please have a plan in place to seek higher ground once heavy rainfall develops. Flash floods can occur quickly and overwhelm adjacent low-lying areas with little warning. Once the stream starts to rise, you may only have minutes to evacuate. Flash floods can cause catastrophic damage and be powerful enough to sweep away campers, vehicles, and mobile homes. Consider temporarily relocating away from streams until the heavy rainfall threat passes.

Tropical Update

[Wednesday] Hurricane Helene to Bring Extreme Hazards to Florida; Landfall Thursday Evening

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

Active Systems:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Helene, located over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and on newly formed Tropical Storm Isaac, located over the central Subtropical Atlantic Ocean.

1. Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic (AL98):
Showers and thunderstorms have increased this morning in association with a broad area of low pressure along a tropical wave located several hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands. However, earlier satellite wind data suggested the system still lacks a well-defined circulation. Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the next day or two while it moves westward to west-northwestward at around 15 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…70 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…80 percent.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (0.7 out of 12) today with Ragweed, Chenopods, and Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.7 out of 12.0).

Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2023)

Highest Temperature 89°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2019
Lowest Temperature 31°F in Highlands in 2001
Greatest Rainfall 2.82 inches in Highlands in 2002
Greatest Snowfall (no measurable snowfall has been recorded on this date since records started being kept in 1872)

Weather Extremes for Macon County for the month of September Data available from 1872

Highest Temperature 98°F in Franklin on 09-04-1975
Lowest Temperature 27°F in Franklin on 09-30-1967
Greatest Rainfall 11.87 inches in Highlands on 09-29-1964
Greatest Snowfall snowfall has not been recorded during August in Macon County)

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