Southern Appalachians - Most significant event of the modern era

One of the "most significant flood events of the modern era" could take place in the southern Appalachians over the next 24 to 36 hours as two weather systems, one being Major Hurricane Helene, combine to bring possibly life-threatening flooding.

Major Hurricane Helene is heading for the Florida Big Bend bringing catastrophic storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rainfall among other severe weather impacts. Additionally, an upper-level low-pressure system has been bringing cloudy skies, thunderstorms and heavy rains to the eastern half for days, including the southern Appalachians.

As Helene makes its way inland, the southeasterly flow of tropical moisture will run into the eastern slopes of the southern Appalachians. Orographic lift - when a warm, moist air mass is lifted over mountains or hills - will occur allowing for the heaviest rains of the week to pile up.

More than 6 and 7 inches of rain have piled up in the last 24 hours across southwest North Carolina and northwest South Carolina thanks to the upper-level low. Now the ground is saturated and will likely not soak up any more rainfall. Now that Helene is getting involved, we could see 20 inches in total with isolated higher amounts before Friday afternoon, causing extreme flooding to places like Asheville, N.C., Gatlinburg, Tenn., Gainesville, Ga., and Greenville, S.C.

There is a high risk for widespread, dangerous flooding and numerous landslides as the deluge occurs. This event is being compared to the Asheville flood event in 1916 when up to 22 inches of rain fell due to the Charleston Hurricane. For those who remember Tropical Storm Fred's impacts in 2021, the impacts are expected to be worse than those in the southern Appalachians. Have at least three ways of receiving weather alerts and turn around, don't drown. This is a possibly life-threatening situation.