It has been two years since one of the Southeast’s deadliest disasters, which claimed hundreds of lives. Here is a look back at the timeline of Hurricane Helene and the meteorological events that led to it.
Rainfall totals in the mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina were measured by feet. However, the tremendous amount of rain can’t solely be blamed on Helene. Another synoptic-scale meteorological feature was at play.
Spectrum News Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Jeff Crum explained the sequence of events: “Days ahead of Helene, we had heavy rain in the region right over the mountains. Some areas had 6-10” and then Helene hit. It was a recipe for disaster.”
The timeline
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) first identified a region in the western Caribbean Sea for possible tropical development on Sept. 17. It took several days for the system to organize, but by Sept. 22, it had developed into an area of low pressure. Because of its proximity to land, the NHC designated it Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine the following day…