960
WTUS82 KCAE 260333
HLSCAE
GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115-116-135>137-261145-
HURRICANE HELENE LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 11
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC AL092024
1133 PM EDT WED SEP 25 2024
THIS PRODUCT COVERS THE MIDLANDS OF CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA CSRA
**STRONG WINDS, TORNADOES, AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED
FROM HURRICANE HELENE LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- NONE
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR AIKEN, BAMBERG,
BARNWELL, BURKE, CALHOUN, CENTRAL ORANGEBURG, CHESTERFIELD,
CLARENDON, COLUMBIA, EDGEFIELD, FAIRFIELD, KERSHAW, LEE,
LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, MCCORMICK, MCDUFFIE, NEWBERRY, NORTHERN
LANCASTER, NORTHWESTERN ORANGEBURG, RICHLAND, RICHMOND, SALUDA,
SOUTHEASTERN ORANGEBURG, SOUTHERN LANCASTER, AND SUMTER
* STORM INFORMATION:
- ABOUT 820 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBIA SC OR ABOUT 770
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF AUGUSTA GA
- 23.1N 86.6W
- STORM INTENSITY 85 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTH OR 360 DEGREES AT 9 MPH
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
HURRICANE HELENE IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN INTO A MAJOR HURRICANE
AS IT MOVES NORTH ACROSS THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO ON THURSDAY. THE
HURRICANE IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE FLORIDA BIG BEND COAST THURSDAY
EVENING. THEN, HELENE WILL TRACK NORTH ACROSS GEORGIA ON THURSDAY
NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. HELENE IS FORECAST TO BECOME A VERY LARGE
STORM, WITH IMPACTS EXPECTED TO EXTEND WELL EAST OF THE CENTER OF THE
STORM. HELENE'S FAST FORWARD SPEED WILL ALLOW STRONG, DAMAGING WINDS,
ESPECIALLY IN GUSTS, TO PENETRATE WELL INLAND ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN
UNITED STATES.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND EAST CENTRAL
GEORGIA ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 3 TO 5 INCHES IN THE CSRA TO 2 TO
3 INCHES IN THE MIDLANDS AND PEE DEE. ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE
POSSIBLE. RAINFALL RATES WILL INCREASE THROUGH THURSDAY, WITH THE
HEAVIEST RAIN BANDS EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING OVER CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE CSRA OF GEORGIA.
TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH HIGHEST CONFIDENCE SOUTH AND EAST
OF I-20 LATE THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS
THE MIDLANDS OF CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA CSRA.
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 DANGEROUS TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS ACROSS THE REGION, ESPECIALLY SOUTH AND EAST OF I-20.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- THE OCCURRENCE OF SCATTERED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.
- SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE WITH A FEW SPOTS
OF CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE, POWER LOSS, AND COMMUNICATIONS FAILURES.
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS TORN OFF FRAME HOUSES, MOBILE
HOMES DEMOLISHED, BOXCARS OVERTURNED, LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR
UPROOTED, VEHICLES TUMBLED, AND SMALL BOATS TOSSED ABOUT.
DANGEROUS PROJECTILES CAN ADD TO THE TOLL.
* FLOODING RAIN:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE
EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS THE CSRA AND SOUTH/CENTRAL MIDLANDS.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- MAJOR RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT MANY EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS IN
MULTIPLE PLACES. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, ARROYOS, AND
DITCHES MAY BECOME DANGEROUS RIVERS. IN MOUNTAIN AREAS,
DESTRUCTIVE RUNOFF MAY RUN QUICKLY DOWN VALLEYS WHILE
INCREASING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROCKSLIDES AND MUDSLIDES. FLOOD
CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME STRESSED.
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER MANY STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE
COMMUNITIES, SOME STRUCTURES BECOMING UNINHABITABLE OR WASHED
AWAY. MANY PLACES WHERE FLOOD WATERS MAY COVER ESCAPE ROUTES.
STREETS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF MOVING WATER WITH
UNDERPASSES SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS.
MANY ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.
PREPARE FOR RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE MINOR/MODERATE IMPACTS
ACROSS THE NORTH MIDLANDS AND PEE DEE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* 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.
KEEP CELL PHONES WELL CHARGED. CELL PHONE CHARGERS FOR AUTOMOBILES
CAN BE HELPFUL, BUT BE AWARE OF YOUR RISK FOR DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE
POISONING IF YOUR CAR IS LEFT IDLING IN A GARAGE OR OTHER POORLY
VENTILATED AREA.
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.
IF IN A PLACE THAT IS VULNERABLE TO HIGH WIND, SUCH AS NEAR LARGE
TREES, A MANUFACTURED HOME, UPPER FLOORS OF A HIGH-RISE BUILDING, OR
ON A BOAT, CONSIDER MOVING TO A SAFER SHELTER BEFORE THE ONSET OF
STRONG WINDS OR FLOODING.
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 FROM THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEE SCEMD.ORG
- FOR INFORMATION FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA SEE GEMA.GA.GOV
NEXT UPDATE
-----------
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN COLUMBIA SC AROUND 530 AM, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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