762  
WTUS82 KGSP 270249  
HLSGSP  
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510-SCZ008>014-019-101>109-271100-  
 
HURRICANE HELENE LOCAL STATEMENT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 14A  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC AL092024  
1049 PM EDT THU SEP 26 2024  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NE GEORGIA  
 
**HELENE TO BRING SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING AND POSSIBLE  
HURRICANE FORCE 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 450 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG SC OR  
ABOUT 490 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF ASHEVILLE NC  
- 28.7N 84.3W  
- STORM INTENSITY 130 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 25 DEGREES AT 23 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
HURRICANE HELENE IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL OVER THE FLORIDA  
PANHANDLE JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND MOVE QUICKLY NORTH THROUGH GEORGIA.  
SIGNIFICANT, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FLASH FLOODING AND MAJOR TO  
RECORD MAINSTEM RIVER FLOODING IS EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF THE  
WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THIS EVENING INTO EARLY  
AFTERNOON FRIDAY, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE ESCARPMENT. WIND  
GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WITH UP TO 80 MPH ACROSS THE HIGHER RIDGE TOPS  
WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH HELENE AS THE CENTER OF THE STORM TRACKS JUST  
WEST OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. THE  
COMBINATION OF SATURATED SOILS AND STRONG WIND GUSTS WILL RESULT IN  
WIDESPREAD DOWNED TREES, LEADING TO NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES. NUMEROUS  
LANDSLIDES WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS, WITH LARGE, DAMAGING  
DEBRIS FLOWS OR SLOPE FAILURES LIKELY. SEVERAL BRIEF TORNADOES ARE  
ALSO POSSIBLE, MAINLY ACROSS THE PIEDMONT.  
 
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 DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS  
ACROSS THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND  
THE WESTERN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. 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.  
 
ALSO, PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS  
ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PROTECT AGAINST A DANGEROUS TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS ACROSS THE EASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT AND THE NORTH  
CAROLINA PIEDMONT. 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.  
 
PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS  
THE REST OF THE PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND  
NORTHEAST GEORGIA.  
 
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.  
 
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.  
 
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  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC AROUND 5 AM EDT, OR SOONER IF  
CONDITIONS WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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