Flood Advisory 09/26/2024 14:07 for North Carolina areas

* WHAT...Nuisance to Minor shoreline and river flooding caused by excessive rainfall and resultant dam gate releases at Oxford Dam. * WHERE...The Catawba River from Oxford Dam to I-40 in portions of Alexander, Catawba, and Iredell counties in North Carolina. * WHEN...Until 400 PM EDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Several docks, access areas, swimming areas, and low-lying residential yards will likely flood. Some outbuildings, campgrounds, and roads may be impacted with shallow flooding. Residents are encouraged to heed guidance from local officials and emergency management on any potential impacts to property. Drivers are encouraged to heed any barricades and avoid all flooded areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 405 PM EDT, Rainfall accumulations of 4-8 inches Wednesday night into Thursday morning over the headwaters of the Catawba River and associated tributaries has caused high flows and increasing lake pool elevations along the Catawba River. Excess water is being passed through Oxford Dam and has resulted in rises at Lookout Shoals Lake, where the pool is currently approaching 102.5 feet. This is causing nuisance shoreline flooding and flooding of lake access areas, campgrounds, docks, and swimming areas, as well as residential yards. Caution is advised anywhere near such areas. * The latest pool elevations for the upper Catawba River lakes are as follows (Full Pool is 100.0 feet): Lake James: 100.16 feet and rising steadily. Lake Rhodhiss: 94.98 feet and rising rapidly. Lake Hickory: 96.52 feet and nearly steady. Lookout Shoals Lake: 102.40 feet and rising steadily. - Additional torrential, potentially devastating rainfall is expected later tonight through Thursday morning from Hurricane Helene. There is the potential for another 5-12 inches of rainfall from Lake Hickory to the Catawba River headwaters, with the highest totals along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. This rainfall will occur on saturated soils and excessive runoff into elevated streams will result in potentially catastrophic inflows into the Catawba River lakes. * Based on current rainfall forecasts and conditions, Duke Energy expects Lookout Shoals Lake to reach or exceed 110.0 feet later Friday, which is 10.0 feet over full pond. The current record pool elevation at Lookout Shoals Lake is 114.40 feet which occurred in August 1940. Lookout Shoals Lake reached 108.30 feet on November 12, 2020, which is the highest crest in the modern era. Major Flood Stage is 106.0 feet. These lake levels will cause unprecedented, catastrophic flooding of Lookout Shoals Lake and possibly adjacent reaches of the Catawba River. * If the rainfall forecast verifies, Major flooding will be likely along and near Lookout Shoals Lake and a Flash Flood Emergency will be issued. Residents are encouraged to heed guidance from local officials and emergency management on any potential impacts to property. Drivers are encouraged to heed any barricades and avoid all flooded areas. This has the potential to be a historic and extremely dangerous event. Please stay weather aware and monitor lake levels and Duke Energy projections closely for any changes. * For more information on lake levels or dam releases, people are encouraged to visit http://lakes.duke-energy.com or call 1-800-829- 5253. * Residents along Lookout Shoals Lake should contact Catawba County Emergency Management immediately to update their contact information using the following direct link to their Community Alert System web page at: https://www.catawbacountync.gov/alert - Flooding will affect areas of the Catawba River from Oxford Dam to I-40, including Lookout Shoals Lake. - Http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood