Full Notification

Deep tropical moisture will spread over the region tonight as Hurricane Zeta makes landfall over the central Gulf Coast. As Zeta moves across the Deep South overnight tonight, bands of heavy rainfall will begin to develop over the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Heavy rainfall coverage will increase over the southern Appalachians Thursday morning as the remnants of Zeta pass overhead. Flash flooding will be possible where the heaviest accumulations occur over the mountains, escarpment, and adjacent foothills. The heavy rainfall and flash flood threat will quickly end late Thursday afternoon as Zeta departs the region. The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of northeast Georgia...western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina, including the following areas, in northeast Georgia, Habersham, Rabun and Stephens. In western North Carolina, Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, Caldwell Mountains, Eastern McDowell, Graham, Greater Burke, Greater Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Polk Mountains, Rutherford Mountains, Southern Jackson, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey. In upstate South Carolina, Greenville Mountains, Oconee Mountains and Pickens Mountains.

* From late tonight through Thursday afternoon

* Anomalously deep tropical moisture will accompany the remnants of Zeta as they approach the region overnight tonight. Heavy rainfall is expected to develop late tonight across the southern mountains and increase in coverage and intensity over the rest of the mountain and foothill region through Thursday morning as the remnants of Zeta move quickly across the southern Appalachians. Despite the fast storm motion, intense rain rates of 1-3" per hour are expected. Storm-total rain accumulations of 2-4 inches are expected through Thursday afternoon, with values possibly exceeding 4-5 inches over the favored ridge tops across the southern mountains. Furthermore, area soil moisture values are high and streamflows are above normal across the region. Therefore, it will take comparatively less rainfall than normal to cause excessive runoff, rapid stream rises, and flash flooding.

* Rapid rises of area streams are likely with several streams possibly exceeding bankfull, resulting in areas of flash flooding. Expect primary impacts to occur to adjacent low-lying areas that typically flood, including farmland, parks, and low-water crossings. However, an isolated area or two of more significant flash flooding is possible. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of urban areas as well. A few mainstem rivers, especially the Little Tennessee, Tuckasegee, Pigeon, and upper French Broad, may also experience minor flooding during the day on Thursday and high river levels may persist into Friday morning.

* AFFECTED AREAS: BUNCOMBE ... OCONEE MOUNTAINS ... EASTERN MCDOWELL ... HENDERSON ... RABUN ... GRAHAM ... HABERSHAM ... MADISON ... GREATER BURKE ... SOUTHERN JACKSON ... MITCHELL ... MACON ... BURKE MOUNTAINS ... AVERY ... PICKENS MOUNTAINS ... CALDWELL MOUNTAINS ... RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS ... TRANSYLVANIA ... YANCEY ... MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS ... NORTHERN JACKSON ... STEPHENS ... HAYWOOD ... SWAIN ... GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS ... POLK MOUNTAINS ... GREATER CALDWELL

Instructions:

A Flash Flood Watch means there is a potential for rapid onset flooding based on current forecasts. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation and may impact areas that do not typically flood. Please monitor the latest forecasts and be prepared to take action quickly should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Rainfall of more than five inches in similar storms has been associated with an increased risk of landslides and rockslides. If you live on a mountainside or in a cove at the base of a mountain, especially near a stream, be ready to leave in advance of the storm or as quickly as possible should rising water, moving earth, or rocks threaten. Consider postponing travel along mountain roads during periods of heavy rainfall.