Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area as a Category 4 storm on Thursday and has since moved inland, causing historic and catastrophic flooding in the southern Appalachians. The storm has been downgraded to a tropical depression, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Heavy rain is expected to continue in the central and southern Appalachians, with total accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, and isolated totals as high as 20 inches. Flash flood emergencies are in effect for various areas in the region, and tornadoes are possible in parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and southern Virginia.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Asheville and McDowell counties in North Carolina, as rivers and reservoirs are expected to swell from heavy rainfall. Multiple schools in Kentucky and Indiana are closed due to the storm, and Helene is expected to stall over the Tennessee Valley throughout the weekend. The storm has left a trail of destruction, with at least 30 reported deaths across four states, including two firefighters in South Carolina. More than 4 million people are without power in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, with significant outages reported in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
The Lake Lure Dam in North Carolina is at risk of failing, with officials warning of imminent failure and urging residents to evacuate to higher ground. The Rutherford County Emergency Management agency has reported “catastrophic” water flow in the area, posing a threat to the small town built around the lake. The impact of Hurricane Helene on airlines has been significant, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed at airports like Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and Asheville Regional Airport. The Tampa International Airport, which closed before the storm, has since resumed operations.
Hurricane Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and follows after Hurricane Francine, which made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm in September. While forecasters predicted an active storm season with up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes, the season has not been as active as expected. Helene’s impact on the southern Appalachians has been severe, with ongoing flooding, power outages, and the potential for dam failure in North Carolina. The storm is a reminder of the unpredictable and destructive nature of hurricanes, and communities in its path are urged to take precautions and stay safe during this challenging time.
