362
WTUS82 KCAE 262118
HLSCAE
GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115-116-135>137-270530-
HURRICANE HELENE LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 14
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC AL092024
518 PM EDT THU SEP 26 2024
THIS PRODUCT COVERS THE MIDLANDS OF CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA CSRA
**HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS POSSIBLE IN THE CSRA**
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 470 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBIA SC OR ABOUT 410
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF AUGUSTA GA
- 27.9N 84.6W
- STORM INTENSITY 125 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
HURRICANE HELENE HAS STRENGTHENED TO A LARGE, MAJOR HURRICANE AS IT
MOVES NORTHWARD ACROSS THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO TODAY. THE HURRICANE
IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE FLORIDA BIG BEND COAST THIS EVENING. THEN,
HELENE WILL TRACK NORTHWARD ACROSS GEORGIA TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY
MORNING. HELENE IS A VERY LARGE STORM WITH IMPACTS EXTENDING 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
4 INCHES IN THE MIDLANDS AND PEE DEE. ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE
POSSIBLE. RAINFALL RATES WILL INCREASE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON, WITH
THE HEAVIEST RAIN BANDS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN LATER TONIGHT INTO EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING. FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE HEAVY
RAINFALL.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS (39 MPH) ARE EXPECTED IN THE CSRA TONIGHT
INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING WITH GUSTS UP TO HURRICANE FORCE STRENGTH
(74 MPH) POSSIBLE. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS ARE EXPECTED OVER
CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA. TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH HIGHEST
CONFIDENCE ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-20 THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
ACROSS THE AUGUSTA METRO AREA AND THE CSRA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA
INCLUDE:
- SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND SIDING MATERIALS, ALONG WITH DAMAGE
TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, AND SHEDS. A FEW BUILDINGS
EXPERIENCING WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES. MOBILE
HOMES DAMAGED, ESPECIALLY IF UNANCHORED. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT
OBJECTS BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES.
- SEVERAL LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER
NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE SHALLOW ROOTED. SEVERAL
FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
- SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. A FEW BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND ACCESS
ROUTES IMPASSABLE.
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES, BUT MORE PREVALENT
IN AREAS WITH ABOVE GROUND LINES.
* TORNADOES:
PROTECT AGAINST A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TORNADO EVENT HAVING
POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS THE REGION, ESPECIALLY SOUTH AND EAST OF I-20.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- THE OCCURRENCE OF NUMEROUS TORNADOES CAN GREATLY HINDER THE
EXECUTION OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.
- MANY PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE WITH A FEW SPOTS OF
IMMENSE DESTRUCTION, POWER LOSS, AND COMMUNICATIONS FAILURES.
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOF AND WALL FAILURES OF STURDY
BUILDINGS WITH SOME BEING LEVELED, STRUCTURES UPON WEAK
FOUNDATIONS BLOWN AWAY, MOBILE HOMES OBLITERATED, LARGE TREES
TWISTED AND SNAPPED WITH FORESTED TREES UPROOTED, VEHICLES
LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND THROWN, AND SMALL BOATS DESTROYED.
LARGE AND DEADLY 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.
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.
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 MIDNIGHT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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