Full Notification

TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall over the Florida
Panhandle Thursday evening and race north into Georgia and the western Carolinas. Significant flash flooding and mainstem flooding is likely Thursday into early Friday, especially along the Blue Ridge
Escarpment. Wind gusts of 40-50 MPH will be associated with Helene as the storm tracks just west of the County Warning Area Thursday night into Friday morning. The combination of saturated soils and strong wind gusts will result in numerous trees down, leading to numerous power outages. Numerous landslides may occur across the mountains, with a couple of large, damaging debris flows/slope failures. An isolated tornado or two can't be ruled out during this event as well.

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 hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across most
of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. 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 tornado event having possible limited impacts
across the western Carolinas and NE Georgia. Potential impacts
include:
- The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
and communications disruptions.
- Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
pulled from moorings.

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 and flooding. If you live near a creek or river, seek temporary shelter with family or friends until this storm passes.  Do wait until flood water rise to decide to relocate.

Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly.  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.