UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA — A high flood risk is in place Saturday for a corridor stretching from Atlanta and Gainesville, Georgia, through Greenville and into Asheville and the North Carolina mountains. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected across the Upstate, with 3 to 6 inches in the mountains. Locally higher amounts of 8 to 10 inches are possible in some mountain areas. Saturday will be a windy, rainy, and raw day, though forecasters stress this storm is not expected to be another Helene.
High Flood Risk From Atlanta to Asheville
The highest flood risk covers a long band from Macon and Atlanta north through Gainesville, Georgia. The zone continues northeast across Greenville, South Carolina, and into Asheville and the western North Carolina mountains.
Heavy downpours repeatedly moving over the same locations, known as training, are the biggest concern in this area. Southern and eastern-facing mountain slopes will also see rainfall enhanced by the terrain.
Medium Risk Covers Much of the Region
A medium flood risk surrounds the high-risk zone, covering a large part of Georgia and the Carolinas. That includes Charlotte, Columbia, Augusta, Florence, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach.
Johnson City, Chattanooga, and parts of eastern Tennessee also fall within the medium-risk area. Localized flooding is possible in these locations, especially in low-lying spots.
Lower Risk Toward Raleigh and Knoxville
A lower flood risk is expected farther north and east, including Winston-Salem, Raleigh, and Fayetteville. Knoxville and areas west of the mountains also fall into the lower-risk zone…