Flood Warning 09/26/2024 18:48 for North Carolina areas

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in North Carolina... French Broad River At Marshall affecting Madison County. French Broad River Near Hot Springs affecting Madison County. French Broad River At Blantyre affecting Transylvania and Henderson Counties. French Broad River At Asheville affecting Buncombe County. French Broad River Near Fletcher affecting Henderson and Buncombe Counties. Swannanoa River At Biltmore affecting Buncombe County. .Ongoing rain associated with Helene will continue overnight tonight into Friday morning. Considerable to catastrophic Moderate to Major flooding across much of the French Broad River and Swannanoa River valleys is expected as a result of this extremely rare high 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 occurring and major flooding is forecast. This approaches the flood of record. * WHERE...French Broad River near Fletcher. * WHEN...Until Monday evening. * IMPACTS...At 20.0 feet, Major Flood Stage. Significant and damaging flooding of the French Broad River Valley is likely from Etowah upstream to Avery Creek and Biltmore Park downstream of the gauge site. 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 8:45 PM EDT Thursday the stage was 17.5 feet. - Action/Advisory Stage is 10.0 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 8:45 PM EDT Thursday was 17.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 30.5 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