Catastrophic Impacts From Helene

• Tornado Watch until 9am
• Tropical Storm & High Wind Warning
• Significant Flash Flooding Threat
• Major River Flooding

• Helene made landfall around 11:10pm near Perry, FL as a Cat 4 major hurricane
• Currently located neat Vidalia, GA and remains a Cat 1
• Moving North at 40 mph and will reach the Carolinas later this morning

• Rainfall has been moderate, but tropical rain bands are beginning to increase which means intensity = rising
• Additional Rainfall: 3-6 inches with the highest totals for the mountains
• Flash Flooding: already occurring and only going to get worse
• River Flooding will extend through next week
  • Resovoirs along the Catawba River at risk of of breaching
    • Duke opened 5 dams at Oxford Dam
    • Major Flood forecast for Catawba River @ Lowell
    • Historic Flood Pools for Lake James and Lookout Shoals

Wind Threat

• Gusts are starting to pick up 30-35 mph
• Strongest gusts arrive by daybreak 50-60 mph, Mountains up to 80 mph
  • Downed Trees
  • Widespread Power Outages

Tornado Threat

• Tornado Watch until 8am for areas near and east of I-77
• Beginning to see some rotation moving across the Midland

• Now through 12pm
  • Helene’s Core will pass west of the region by mid-morning
  • Highest risk of flash flooding, tornadoes and wind damage
• Friday PM
  • Winds will begin to settle, but river flooding will remain a concern
• Weekend
  • Calmer and quieter
  • River levels will hit moderate to major flood stage