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    • Tropical Storm Helene hits western North Carolina
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    Tropical Storm Helene hits western North Carolina

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    Western North Carolina is starting to feel the effects of Helene, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but is still causing severe flooding, power outages and more in its path — and the National Weather Service says Friday morning, September 27, that there’s even more to come is in hand. come.

    As of 7:06 a.m., Duke Energy recorded 1,240 active outages in Buncombe County, a total of 71,138 customers without power. The NWS told the Citizen Times what to expect next.

    More: Hurricane Helene will cause a ‘500-year flood,’ WNC officials say; 15,000 homes affected

    Precipitation in Western NC

    By yesterday morning, September 26, WNC had received up to 8 inches of rain in many areas from the ‘predecessor’ rainfall alone. This morning, maps in Asheville and surrounding areas, including Hendersonville, show another 4 to 8 inches of rain in the last 24 hours.

    NWS meteorologist Clay Chaney said another 2 to 4 inches is expected over WNC, with the worst of it occurring “probably within an hour or two” around 7:30 a.m.

    More: Hurricane Helene: Biden approves federal emergency declaration for NC

    Wind speeds in Asheville

    Like many of Helene’s effects in WNC, the worst winds are yet to come.

    “They’re not that high right now, but they’ll rise soon,” Chaney said.

    NWS statements this morning predict peak winds of 30-60 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h, and up to 130 km/h over higher ridges. The combination of saturated ground and strong wind gusts will cause the continued risk of widespread downed trees, leading to numerous power outages. The NWS has advised planning for “hazardous winds of equivalent tropical storm force.”

    Numerous landslides are likely to occur in the mountains, resulting in large, damaging debris flows or slope failures. Brief tornadoes were also considered possible, albeit largely throughout the Piedmont area.

    Asheville again tonight

    Chaney said the worst of the storm is yet to come, but it won’t last long as Helene’s rain hits WNC.

    “It looks like he’ll be out of here around noon,” Chaney said.

    By tonight, the NWS predicts only a slight chance of showers between midnight and 3 a.m., with only patchy fog forecast after 3 a.m. South-easterly winds are expected to blow at around 16-20 km/h, with gusts up to 40 km/h and an overall chance of precipitation around 20%.

    Weather Alerts in WNC

    Flood advisories are active for:

    • French Broad River at Marshall affects Madison County.
    • French Broad River near hot springs affecting Madison County.
    • French Broad River at Blantyre affects Transylvania and Henderson provinces.
    • French Broad River near Asheville affects Buncombe County.
    • French Broad River near Fletcher affecting Henderson and Buncombe counties.
    • Swannanoa River at Biltmore affects Buncombe County.

    Mandatory evacuations have been issued for many residents living near flooding rivers.

    Tropical Storm Warnings are active for much of WNC. Visit your region’s NWS forecast page for more information.

    Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].

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