Alert archive / North Carolina / River Flood Warnings in 2024

River Flood Warning 21, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

September 25, 2024Swain County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this river flood warning at Sep 25, 2024, 5:20 PM EDT for Swain County, North Carolina. It took effect at Sep 26, 2024, 7:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 45 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 25, 2024, 5:20 PM EDT (21:20 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 26, 2024, 7:00 AM EDT
Expired
Sep 28, 2024, 4:04 AM EDT
In force
45 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Minor

County Swain County, NC

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:19 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The river

Written for the forecast point Tuckasegee River below Everett St, in Bryson City (TKSN7). The gauge peaked at 14.83 ft at Sep 27, 2024, 3:00 PM EDT.

actionminormoderatemajor5101509/2509/2609/2709/2809/29
Action stage
8 ft
Minor stage
10 ft
Moderate stage
13.5 ft
Major stage
15.5 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 03513000, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this river flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this river flood warning went out at Sep 25, 2:51 PM EDT, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 25, 2:51 PM EDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
251 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Tropical Cyclone Helene is forecast to make landfall over the
Florida Panhandle late Thursday, with the remnant circulation moving
quickly north bringing gusty winds and heavy rainfall to our area
Thursday night into Friday.  Expect a calmer weekend with
temperatures near seasonal normals.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
A well developed Precursor Rain Event (PRE) has developed from srn
AL northeast across ne/ern TN. This has band of precip has become
more organized in the past couple hours and has filled in across and
upstream of the far wrn portions of FA. Rainfall rates will be quite
high as this line will not move much thru the near term period and
expect issues with flash flooding stream/urban to develop this
evening and continue thru the overnight. Areas east of the mtns will
have a harder time developing convection as mlvl LRs remain a little
low, however, a few cells will have the potential to become severe
as bouncy increases and interacts with high levels of bulk shear.
Also, updraft helicity has increased and a tornado or two will be
possible thru the evening.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the wrn 2/3rds of the FA
as tropical storm conds will likely begin developing just after the
near term, or Thu night. Also, rainfall amts have gone up with the
latest models showing an increase of QPF as the trop system
interacts with the PRE environment and additional upslope forcing.
Thus, the going Flood Watch has been expanded east by a county or
two. This system will produce very rare and significant amts of
rainfall and isol areas across the mtns and adjacent zones will see
catastrophic and damaging flooding by the later near term.
Landslides across the high terrain will also be probable.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 130 PM EDT Wednesday: ***MAJOR RAINFALL EVENT FOR THE
SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS AND VICINITY WITH POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD
FLASH FLOODING***

The predecessor rainfall event will be coming to an end by the
beginning portions of the forecast period as the initial tropical
rain bands from Hurricane Helene begins to move in from the south
as Helene will be in the midst of making landfall as a major
hurricane near the Big Bend of Florida Thursday evening. Large
amounts of rainfall will have already fallen across the Blue Ridge
Escarpment, southeast facing slopes, western Upstate South Carolina,
and northeast Georgia. Sandwiched between a closed upper low over
the mid-Mississippi Valley and an upper anticyclone over the western
Atlantic will inadvertently sling shot Helene into the Southeast
Thursday night before the storm takes on a more western track as
the closed upper low overtakes the track by Friday afternoon. The
heaviest rainfall rates will be within the tropical rainbands
and with already rising streams, creeks, and rivers, expect for
significant flash flooding to take place in locations that will get
hammered by the PRE in the near-term forecast. The areas of most
concern will be the southern Appalachians and adjacent foothills
as flash flooding becomes widespread, with locally severe and
life-threatening flooding likely. The rainfall is expected to taper
off by Friday afternoon as Helene becomes absorbed by the closed
upper low and drier air filters in. Before everything is all said
and done, 5-10" of rainfall will be possible in locations west
of HWY 321 and 10-15+" on the southeastern facing slope along the
Blue Ridge. Still expect moderate to major flooding on some main
stem rivers including: French Broad River Basin, Pigeon River and
Tuckasegee River Basin, and Saluda and Broad River Basins. These
areas are forecasted to see river floods that rival 1995 (TC Jerry)
and 2004. With the amount of rain and heavy rainfall rates, it's
likely that numerous landslides will occur over the mountains,
especially the Blue Ridge Escarpments and result in a couple of
large, damaging debris flows/slope failures as well.

With the fast track north to the area that Helene will encompass,
the frictional force that usually derails any tropical cyclone's
wind fields won't have enough time to totally wipe out the strong
wind field associated with Helene. In this case, wind gusts of
40-50, some 60-70 mph will be possible in the western portions
of the CFWA Thursday night into Friday morning. In this case,
we have issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the North Carolina
mountains/foothills, Upstate South Carolina, and northeast
Georgia. The impacts will be significant from winds as soils will
already be super saturated and any strong wind gusts will easily
knock down numerous trees and lead to numerous power outages
across the locations in the Tropical Storm Watch. The tornado
threat will be the lowest concern of the big three that come with
any tropical system, but definitely nonzero, especially with the
initial rainbands that work into the region Thursday evening into
the overnight period. The biggest threat will be in locations along
and south of the I-85 corridor as better instability will become
established in this region and will be in the favorable front-right
quadrant of Helene. Most instability will diminish overnight as
more stable northeasterly flow filters in thanks to Helene. Most
model guidance lifts Helene out of the region by Friday afternoon
with conditions quickly improving. Flooding will be ongoing Friday
afternoon and evening, while mainstem river flooding may persist
into the weekend.

Saturday will be much improved and provides relief from the impacts
that will occur Thursday and Friday, with a lot of locations
cleaning up after the storm. The closed upper low is expected to
engulf Helene, but should gradually push east. This could lead
to a few showers in the mountains Saturday afternoon, but expect
for rainfall to remain light in comparison to the rainfall from
Thursday and Friday. Temperatures will be near-normal Saturday as
well in part to the lower heights and any lingering cloud cover.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 245 PM EDT Wednesday: Closed upper low is expected to engulf
the remnants of Helene, while gradually pushing across the Ohio and
Tennessee Valleys over the weekend before setting shop over the
Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas by the start of the new workweek. In
this case, showers will return back into the forecast for Sunday
and Monday as the upper low crosses the area and a moisture starved
front will swing across the region by midweek. Signs of true Fall
weather from the model guidance is evident beyond D6. Temperatures
will remain near-normal through much of the period as elevated
cloud cover and PoPs remain in the forecast.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: The TAF set will start out mostly VFR with
MVFR lingering at KHKY for a few more hrs this afternoon. Precip and
thunder chances outside the the mtns will be tricky, but enuf
destabilization will likely develop sct showers with isol thunder at
least, so went with a TEMPO thunder all sites later this afternoon
into the evening. Flight conds will begin to deteriorate overnight
with IFR conds, mainly due to CIGs, likely at all sites before
daybreak. High moisture levels persist Thu and will expect little
improvement in CIGs thru the day. Winds remain se/ly outside the
mtns and more varying at KAVL with low-end gusts all sites by the
late period.

Outlook: A tropical cyclone will bring low CIGs, heavy rain, and
strong winds Thurs into Fri before moving out of the area late Fri
into Sat. Isolated to sct mainly diurnal convection will be possible
thru the weekend.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for GAZ010-017-018-026-
     028-029.
     Tropical Storm Watch for GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029.
NC...Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for NCZ033-035-048>053-
     056-058-059-062>065-068-069-501>510.
     Tropical Storm Watch for NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-068-
     501>510.
SC...Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for SCZ008-010>013-019-
     101>109.
     Tropical Storm Watch for SCZ008-010>013-019-101>109.
&&

SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...SBK
SHORT TERM...CAC
LONG TERM...CAC
AVIATION...SBK
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 25, 5:20 AM EDT, 12 hours before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
520 AM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-SCZ008-009-011>014-019-109-260930-
Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-
Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Cherokee-York-Abbeville-Laurens-
Union SC-Chester-Greenwood-Southern Spartanburg-
520 AM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina and
upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Another round of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms is
expected this afternoon and evening. Some of these storms could become
strong to severe and produce damaging wind gusts and hail. Heavy rainfall
can occur with any storm.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

A tropical system is expected to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico
on Thursday as it tracks northward. This system will impact the western
Carolinas and northeast Georgia Thursday and Friday, bringing gusty
winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to the area.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501>510-
SCZ010-101>108-260930-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Madison-Yancey-
Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-
Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson-Caldwell Mountains-
Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-
Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-
Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Anderson-Oconee Mountains-
Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-
Greater Pickens-Central Greenville-Southern Greenville-
Northern Spartanburg-
520 AM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, western
North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.

Another round of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms is expected
this afternoon and evening. Some of these storms could become strong to
severe and produce damaging wind gusts and hail. In addition, heavy rainfall
can occur with any storm and may lead to localized flash flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.

Gusty winds are also expected as a tropical system impacts the area
Thursday and Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

JPT

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 25, 3:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
342 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0307 PM     Hail             3 W Turnerville         34.69N 83.47W
09/25/2024  M1.00 Inch       Habersham          GA   Public

            Quarter sized hail.

&&

DEO
Local storm report, Sep 25, 3:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
349 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0305 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NW Hollywood          34.66N 83.46W
09/25/2024                   Habersham          GA   Fire Dept/Rescue

            A report of trees down in the northern part
            of Habersham.

&&

DEO
Special weather statement, Sep 25, 4:05 PM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
405 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

NCZ505>508-252030-
McDowell Mountains NC-Greater Rutherford NC-Rutherford Mountains NC-
Eastern McDowell NC-
405 PM EDT Wed Sep 25 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MCDOWELL AND
NORTHWESTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT...

At 404 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles west of Rutherfordton, or 5 miles southeast of Lake Lure,
moving northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Marion, Shingle Hollow, Sugar Hill, Thermal City, Glenwood, Fero,
Dysartsville, Union Mills, and Pleasant Gardens.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3560 8183 3558 8183 3541 8206 3546 8217
      3571 8206
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 213DEG 17KT 3539 8213

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

JRK
Special weather statement, Sep 25, 4:43 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 24, 9:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCleveland24 min
Sep 24, 9:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCleveland, Gaston, Lincoln46 min
Sep 24, 10:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCleveland, Gaston, Lincoln41 min
Sep 24, 10:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg57 min
Sep 24, 11:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRutherford43 min
Sep 24, 11:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan48 min
Sep 24, 11:49 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPGaston114 min
Sep 25, 12:00 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCabarrus, Rowan47 min
Sep 25, 12:05 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRutherford25 min
Sep 25, 2:05 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson, Polk4 hr
Sep 25, 11:27 AM EDTTropical Storm WatchGSPAvery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Graham and 12 more6 hr
Sep 25, 2:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPGraham2 hr
Sep 25, 3:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPMacon44 min
Sep 25, 3:51 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPBuncombe, Henderson7 days
Sep 25, 3:51 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPBuncombe6 days
Sep 25, 3:51 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPHenderson, Transylvania6 days
Sep 25, 3:51 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPBuncombe4 days
Sep 25, 3:51 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPMadison4 days
Sep 25, 3:51 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPMadison5 days
Sep 25, 4:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPMcDowell25 min
Sep 25, 4:31 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPJackson, Transylvania3 hr
Sep 25, 4:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPTransylvania32 min
Sep 25, 4:51 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPHaywood55 hr
Sep 25, 5:06 PM EDTTropical Storm WarningGSPAvery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland and 17 more45 hr
Sep 25, 5:29 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPTransylvania4 hr
Sep 25, 5:32 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPBuncombe2 hr
Sep 25, 5:45 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPCleveland4 days
Sep 25, 5:45 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPCleveland4 days
Sep 25, 6:12 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPBuncombe, Henderson, Madison5 hr
Sep 25, 6:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAvery37 min
Sep 25, 6:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPHenderson25 min
Sep 25, 6:47 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPGaston4 days
Sep 24, 8:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPOconee38 min
Sep 24, 8:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPOconee, Pickens45 min
Sep 24, 9:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee37 min
Sep 24, 9:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPPickens40 min
Sep 24, 10:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGreenville, Spartanburg38 min
Sep 25, 4:12 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPOconee5 hr
Sep 25, 4:33 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPGreenville, Pickens4 days
Sep 25, 4:33 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningGSPAnderson, Greenville5 days
Sep 25, 4:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAnderson35 min
Sep 25, 5:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPPickens44 min
Sep 25, 2:44 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPHabersham, Rabun46 min
Sep 25, 2:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRabun24 min

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2024Every river flood warning in 2024

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.