Rainfall Event Update as of 9.11pm on Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Moisture will continue streaming in from the Gulf of Mexico until Friday afternoon. We are just getting started.

Court in Macon County scheduled for Friday, September 27, 2024, has been postponed. Please contact the Clerk of Court Office to find out your new court date.

Here is a loop showing rainfall being transported from the Gulf of Mexico up through the Appalachians via a jet streak that has transformed it into an atmospheric river that will be dumping copious amounts of rain on Macon County over the next 36 hours or so..

This graphic is courtesy of the NOAA GOES-16 Satellite and covers the time period from 10.21am to 8.16pm on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Previously published post regarding this storm event:

Tornado-Warned Storm Approaching Scaly Mountain and Highlands Area [LINK] 

Hurricane Local Statement and Tropical Storm Watch Issued for Macon County [LINK] 

Safety Information for the Upcoming Severe Weather Event (Wednesday-Friday) [LINK] 

The National Weather Service National Water Center has issued a hydrological Discussion for our area for the next two hours. A copy is posted below.

The Tropical Storm Watch for Macon County has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning. A copy of it is posted below.

Helene Local Watch/Warning Statement/Advisory Number 10
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC AL092024
506 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

…TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT…

A Tropical Storm Warning means tropical storm-force winds are expected somewhere within this area within the next 36 hours

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
– Franklin

* WIND
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Tropical storm force winds remain possible
– Peak Wind Forecast: 25-35 mph with gusts to 60 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: Efforts to protect property should now be underway. Prepare for limited wind damage.
– ACT: Act now to complete preparations 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 somewhat favorable for tornadoes

– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for a few tornadoes
– The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
– PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for a few tornadoes.
– PREPARE: If your shelter is particularly vulnerable to tornadoes, prepare to relocate to safe shelter before hazardous weather arrives.
– ACT: If a tornado warning is issued, be ready to shelter quickly.

– POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited
– 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.

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

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