Flood Warning 09/26/2024 00:30 for North Carolina areas

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in North Carolina... Swannanoa River At Biltmore affecting Buncombe County. .Update: Significant flows along the Swannanoa River resulting from headwater flash flooding has resulted in the river exceeding Minor Flood Stage. The river may rise to near 11.0 feet, slow, recede slightly, then rise again as it responds to additional rounds of heavy rainfall early this morning into Thursday afternoon. Additional adjustments to the forecast are likely. Previous Synopsis: The first round of heavy rainfall is underway across the French Broad River and Swannanoa River valleys and resulted in a quick 2-5" along the entire reach of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers Wednesday evening. This resulted in a quick and significant rise of these rivers to near or just above Action/Advisory Stage, which is the level at which nuisance flooding begins. With this initial response, the rivers are now going to be very sensitive to new rounds of heavy rainfall, which are expected to return to the region overnight tonight into Thursday morning. Both rivers may exceed Minor Flood Stage fairly quickly in response to any new areas of persistent heavy rainfall that develops. Therefore, while the current crests have not changed due to a general persistence in the forecasted rainfall, the time at which Minor Flood Stage is exceeded has been moved to an earlier time to account for the quick rises from Wednesday evening. The current round of heavy rainfall, resulting from tropical moisture interacting with a stationary front, will persist through Thursday morning, while the second round of heavy rainfall is expected to begin Thursday night and last through Friday morning associated with Hurricane Helene. Considerable to catastrophic Moderate to Major flooding across much of the French Broad River and Swannanoa River valleys is expected as a result of extremely rare rainfall. This flooding has the potential to rival the Major, catastrophic flooding observed in September 2004 from Hurricanes Frances and Ivan, especially from the French Broad River headwaters near Rosman and Blantyre to Asheville. This flooding will shutdown numerous roadways. Several roadways will experience strong and damaging streamflows, likely causing damage to roadway infrastructure including culverts and bridges. Primary roadways that do not typically flood will likely flood, resulting in very significant impacts to travel. Travel may become very difficult and dangerous. Numerous structures, including homes and businesses, are likely to be inundated as a result of Major flooding. Many structures may become uninhabitable and some structures may become completely destroyed due to ruinous flooding. There is a potential for crests to exceed the current forecast crests. Confidence in significant rainfall is very high, but small reductions or increases in storm-total rainfall may result in notable changes to the forecast crests. It is absolutely imperative that you maintain awareness of the latest forecasts and plan NOW to respond to the worst-case scenario for your area. * WHAT...Moderate flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Swannanoa River at Biltmore. * WHEN...From this evening to Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...At 10.0 feet, Minor Flood Stage. Backwater effects from the Swannanoa River may be causing flooding along Sweeten Creek forcing floodwaters onto Garfield St. Swannanoa River floodwaters are approaching and may be flooding parts of Swannanoa River Rd. (NC 81), Caledonia Rd., Glendale Ave., and Thompson St. * At 15.0 feet, Moderate Flooding continues. Sweeten Creek Rd. and Brook St. flooding continues between Biltmore Ave. and I-40. Several inches of floodwaters are likely inundating Decatur St., Garfield St., portions of Thompson St., and the first floors of adjacent buildings. Flooding of land, roadways, and buildings between the Swannanoa River and Brook St.-Fairview Rd. is likely. * At 16.5 feet, Major Flood Stage. Floodwaters are likely inundating Biltmore Ave. north and south of the Swannanoa River bridge. Significant flooding of adjacent land, roadways, railroads, and buildings between Sweeten Creek Rd. and the Swannanoa River is likely. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 3:15 AM EDT Thursday the stage was 9.9 feet and rising steadily. - Action/Advisory Stage is 8.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is exceeding Minor Flood Stage. It may crest briefly near 11.0 feet this morning, then rise to Moderate Flood Stage and a crest of 15.5 feet early tomorrow afternoon. It will then fall below Minor Flood Stage early Saturday morning. NOTE: There is a potential for the crest to approach 17 feet. - Minor Flood Stage is 10.0 feet. Moderate Flood Stage is 14.5 feet. Major Flood Stage is 16.5 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 15.3 feet on 08/30/1940. The Swannanoa River crested at 19.22 feet during Hurricane Frances on September 8, 2004 and 16.74 feet during Hurricane Ivan on September 17, 2004. - Http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood