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WTUS82 KCAE 270316
HLSCAE
GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115-116-135>137-271130-
HURRICANE HELENE LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 15
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC AL092024
1116 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 330 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBIA SC OR ABOUT 270
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF AUGUSTA GA
- 29.9N 83.9W
- STORM INTENSITY 140 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 15 DEGREES AT 24 MPH
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
HURRICANE HELENE IS A LARGE, MAJOR HURRICANE WITH IMPACTS EXTENDING
WELL EAST OF THE CENTER OF THE STORM. HELENE WILL TRACK NORTHWARD
ACROSS GEORGIA TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. 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. THE HEAVIEST RAIN BANDS ARE 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
DEVASTATING IMPACTS ACROSS THE CSRA AND SOUTH/CENTRAL MIDLANDS. 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.
PREPARE FOR RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING HIGH TO MODERATE IMPACTS
ACROSS THE MIDLANDS AND PEE DEE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
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.
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 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 6 AM, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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