* WHAT. East winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. * WHERE. Alexander, Cabarrus, Davie, Iredell, and Rowan Counties. * WHEN. From 8 PM this evening to 2 PM EDT Friday. * IMPACTS. Strong winds and rough waves on area lakes will create hazardous conditions for small craft.

* WHAT. Catastrophic, life threatening flooding, caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE. Portions of North Carolina, including the following areas, Stokes and Yadkin, Virginia, including the following areas, Campbell, Henry and Pittsylvania, and southeast West Virginia, including the following areas, Eastern Greenbrier, Summers and Western Greenbrier. * WHEN. Through Friday evening. * IMPACTS. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. - An additional 3 to 10 inches of rain will fall on already saturated soils. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

At 436 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Garner, or 11 miles south of Raleigh, moving north at 15 mph. HAZARD. Wind gusts up to 40 mph. SOURCE. Radar indicated. IMPACT. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include. Raleigh, Garner, Knightdale, William B Umstead State Park, and Lake Benson.

At 358 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles north of Benson, or 11 miles west of Smithfield, moving north at 15 mph. HAZARD. Wind gusts up to 50 mph. SOURCE. Radar indicated. IMPACT. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include. Garner, Clayton, Coats Crossroads, and Lake Benson.

* WHAT. Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE. Much of central North Carolina, including most of the Piedmont, the Yadkin Valley, the Sandhills, the southern Coastal Plain along with the Triad and Triangle areas. * WHEN. From 6 PM EDT this evening through Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. - Given recent wet conditions, the ground is saturated and streamflows are significantly above normal. Much of central NC is susceptible to Flash Flooding with significant rain or periods of heavy rain. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

* WHAT. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE. Portions of north central North Carolina, including the following counties, Caswell and Rockingham and Virginia, including the following counties, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte and Halifax. * WHEN. Through Friday evening. * IMPACTS. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. - An additional 3 to 6 inches of rain will fall on already saturated soils. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

* WHAT. Catastrophic, life threatening flooding, caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE. Portions of North Carolina, including the following areas, Alleghany NC, Ashe, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin, Virginia, including the following areas, Alleghany VA, Amherst, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Campbell, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Smyth, Tazewell and Wythe, and southeast West Virginia, including the following areas, Eastern Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Summers and Western Greenbrier. * WHEN. Through Friday evening. * IMPACTS. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. - An additional 3 to 10 inches of rain will fall on already saturated soils. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

* WHAT. Southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE. A portion of central North Carolina. * WHEN. From midnight tonight to 6 PM EDT Friday. * IMPACTS. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured outdoor objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and result in scattered power outages. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. Winds will increase overnight, reaching their peak by mid/late morning. Winds will gradually weaken Friday evening.

* WHAT. East winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE. Portions of north central and northwest North Carolina, central, south central, southwest, and west central Virginia, and southeast West Virginia. * WHEN. From 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT Friday. * IMPACTS. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Trees will more easily be toppled due to the wet ground. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. The strongest winds will be along the southern Blue Ridge.

* WHAT. East winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. * WHERE. Alexander, Cabarrus, Davie, Iredell, and Rowan Counties. * WHEN. From 8 PM this evening to 2 PM EDT Friday. * IMPACTS. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

HLSGSP 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 680 miles south-southwest of Greenville/Spartanburg SC or about 720 miles south-southwest of Asheville NC - 25.5N 85.5W - Storm Intensity 105 mph - Movement North-northeast or 25 degrees at 14 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall over the Florida Panhandle this evening and move quickly north through Georgia. Significant, potentially catastrophic flash flooding and major mainstem river flooding is expected over portions of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia later today into early 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 numerous downed trees, leading to numerous power outages. Numerous landslides may occur across the mountains, with large, damaging debris flows or slope failures possible. Brief isolated tornadoes are also possible. 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 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 dangerous tornado event having possible significant impacts across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. 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. 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 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.

* WHAT. Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE. Portions of piedmont North Carolina, including the following areas, Cabarrus, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union NC and upstate South Carolina, including the following areas, Chester and York. * WHEN. Through Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. - Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are expected due to the interaction of tropical moisture along a stationary front, followed by the passage of Tropical Storm Helene. Storm-total rainfall of 3 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts. Urban flooding across poor drainage areas is possible along with dangerous flows along numerous streams. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood