Areas of Western North Carolina including Asheville already have already received more than half a foot of rain – and the effects of Hurricane Helene haven’t even begun.
The National Weather Service told the Citizen Times that the outer rain band of Helene will likely arrive in WNC this evening, Sept. 26, bringing even more heavy rain with the addition of high winds.
NWS Meteorologist Clay Chaney stressed that residents of the area shouldn’t underestimate the severity of the weather to come, particularly the potential for “catastrophic, life-threatening flooding.”
“Make sure you use those words, because we don’t use them lightly, and we’re throwing them around like candy,” Chaney said.
He added that the NWS is comparing the weather events to flooding caused by Hurricane Frances in 2004 and Tropical Depression Fred in 2021. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for NC due to the storms on Sept. 25.
More: School closings in Western North Carolina ahead of Hurricane Helene