Flood Warning 09/26/2024 09:35 for North Carolina areas

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in North Carolina... French Broad River At Blantyre affecting Transylvania and Henderson Counties. French Broad River Near Fletcher affecting Buncombe and Henderson Counties. .The first round of heavy rainfall is underway across the French Broad River and Swannanoa River valleys and resulted in a quick 5-8" along the entire reach of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers Wednesday evening. This resulted in a quick and significant rise of these rivers above flood stage. 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 will continue to rise quickly in response to any new areas of persistent heavy rainfall that develops. 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 will exceed the Major, catastrophic flooding observed in September 2004 from Hurricanes Frances and Ivan and has the potential to exceed the 1916 floods, 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...Minor flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecast. This approaches the flood of record. * WHERE...French Broad River near Fletcher. * WHEN...Until Monday evening. * IMPACTS...At 20.1 feet, Record Flood Stage. Floodwaters are approaching levels similar to those levels observed in during Hurricane Frances in early September, 2004. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 12:15 PM EDT Thursday the stage was 15.4 feet. - Action/Advisory Stage is 10.0 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 12:15 PM EDT Thursday was 15.4 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 29.6 feet tomorrow evening. It will then fall below flood stage Monday morning. - Minor Flood Stage is 13.0 feet. Moderate Flood Stage is 17.0 feet. Major Flood Stage is 20.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest exceeds a previous crest of 20.1 feet on 09/08/2004 from Hurricane Frances. Unprecedented flooding is expected. - Http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood