Hurricane Helene weakened to a strong tropical storm on the morning of 27 September across northeast Georgia. Helene continued to track to the west and northwest into the Tennessee Valley.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS RAH wrote it up.
Hurricane Helene weakened to a strong tropical storm on the morning of 27 September across northeast Georgia. Helene continued to track to the west and northwest into the Tennessee Valley. Widespread rainfall totals of 2-4 inches of rain fell over central North Carolina, along with wind gusts of 25-45 mph. Additionally, four tornadoes occurred, with the strongest an EF3, touching down over Rocky Mount in Nash County.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 27, 6:28 AM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Raleigh NC 728 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 .SYNOPSIS... What is now Hurricane Helene, centered near the Florida Georgia border, will weaken gradually as it races northward through Georgia tonight through early Friday morning. The storm will then slow down and weaken further to a depression as it moves northwestward over Tennessee into southwest Kentucky through Saturday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 400 AM Friday... Tropical Cyclone Helene made landfall at 1110 PM last night as a category 4 hurricane with max sustained winds of 140 mph near the Florida Big Bend. The rapid northerly movement of this strong storm of 25 to 30 mph continues as it plows into through the Southeast. HREF ensemble mean MSLP moves Helene into northern GA by 12z this morning where the official forecast shows Helene still as a warm-core tropical storm. Helene will undergo extra- tropical transition as it becomes absorbed into an occluded low over the lower Ohio Valley through the evening hours. Hi-Res guidance has come into good agreement that a feeder band of convection within a low-level convergence axis will begin to lift north into our area between 600 and 800 AM and progress east-northeast across central NC through the early afternoon. This feeder band will bring multiple hazards to central NC today and each are discussed below with conditions rapidly improving in its wake by mid/late afternoon. Wind: The strength TC Helene was able to reach, rapid inland movement, and expanding wind field as it begins to transition into an extra-tropical cyclone will combine to bring strong to locally damaging winds to portions of central NC. Wind gusts over northern GA and SC early this morning, well in advance of the core of of Helene, range from roughly 25-40 kts (30 to 45 mph). These winds will spread north as Helene approaches and into most of central NC, strongest in the western Piedmont. A blend of latest hi-res guidance suggest that sporadic gusts of 55 mph will be possible over the western Piedmont shortly after sunrise into the mid morning hours before gradually weakening into the afternoon. Tornado: An incredibly strong kinematic environment will continue to spread into central NC through the early morning into the afternoon hours. Large looping hodographs, especially in the low-levels, will result in 250 to over 400 m2/s2 of 0-1 km SRH in advance of and within the convective band as it moves through central NC. Tornado potential will be maximized from early this morning over the southern Piedmont, Sandhills, and into the southern/central Coastal Plain and spreading north into the early afternoon hours. The greatest uncertainty will be the degree of instability can be achieved. MLCAPE of 500 J/kg of instability will overspread most of the area and will likely support rotating updrafts that will be capable of producing short-lived tornadoes anywhere in central NC. Greater instability closer to 1000 J/kg of MLCAPE is expected over the Sandhills into the southern/central Coastal Plain in advance of the convective line and may result in a greater/stronger tornado threat as updrafts are able to further deepen and may result in a more classic supercellular structures. Flooding: PWAT values will continue to climb into the 2 to 2.5 inch range as Helene approaches which will likely break daily records at GSO/MHX with the 12z RAOBs. This anomalous moisture will fuel heavy rain and torrential downpours within the axis of convection as it pivots across the area. Quick storm motions will thankfully keep totals more manageable for most locations (0.5 to 1.5), but swaths of 2-3 inches will be possible anywhere across central NC and may lead to flash flooding especially in urban and poor drainage locations. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... As of 400 AM Friday... A vertically stacked low pressure system will be gradually filling over the lower Ohio Valley by 12z Saturday. The axis of rich dew points in the low/mid 70s will be shifting out over the Atlantic with a streamer of dry mid-level air overhead. After some early morning fog and low overcast, generally clearing skies and fair weather diurnal cumulus clouds bubbling during the afternoon. A disturbance rotating around the base of the closed low to our west, may bring a passing shower to the western Piedmont during the evening into the overnight hours, but overall, expect a dry forecast for a majority of the day. Temperatures will peak in the low/mid 80s during the afternoon with overnight low settling in the 60s. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 325 AM Friday... A chance of showers and a few storms will persist Sun into Tue, mainly each afternoon/evening and primarily across the N. Dry weather will follow for mid week. The upper low which will have absorbed Helene is expected to drift slowly ENE over the Ohio Valley Sun/Mon, moving from NW KY to N WV. This will keep our area within SW flow aloft and in the warm sector at the surface, between the surface low well to our WNW and high pressure centered off the Southeast coast. A diffuse frontal zone extending E of the KY low across VA combined with upslope-directed low level flow suggest the better chances for sufficient focus and lift will be across the N including the Triad/Triangle regions Sun and Mon. A surface low will develop in W NC early Mon and move into central NC Mon night, bringing a surface cold front with it. As this low is expected to deepen a bit as it pushes east off the SE VA/NE NC coast by late Tue, we should see a shift of better rain chances into NE sections Tue. The upper low over N WV will finally start to shear out and weaken into an open wave before shifting E and offshore Tue night, propelled by a strong northern stream wave pushing through S Canada and the N CONUS, reaching Quebec and the Northeast states Wed and pushing off the Northeast coast Thu. This will put our area into a drier NW flow Wed, prompting a trend to a dry forecast, then a secondary cold front associated with the strong northern stream wave will move through Wed night, drawing a cooler air mass into NC by Thu. Models are in fairly good agreement on this scenario, although the Canadian has a deeper low over N Ontario mid week and as such is cooler in our area by Thu. Will have temps 3-8 degrees above normal Sun/Mon, 1-6 degrees above normal Tue/Wed, then within a degree or two of normal Thu, although if the Canadian is correct, it could be even cooler Wed and esp Thu. -GIH && .AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 725 AM Friday... Only minor timing adjustments were changed with the 12z TAF package with the previous discussion still valid and found below. Adverse aviation conditions are expected over much of central NC, primarily all but the far NE, from early this morning through this afternoon. The worst conditions, which will be in the S and W Piedmont, will include low cigs, periodic strong wind gusts, and a few hours of low level wind shear. The center of what is now Tropical Storm Helene is located over northeast GA and will track quickly northwest into TN through daybreak. While the current rainfall over central NC is mostly light, cigs are largely IFR (with some MVFR far NE), and these conditions should hold through this morning, with gradual improvement to MVFR then VFR S to N through the day. This lull in rain will last until around 10z, when a strong tropical rainband will begin to lift NE through central NC, lasting through about 20z. As this rainband passes through central NC terminals SW to NE, at any given location, a few hours of torrential rains producing MVFR-IFR vsbys are likely, along with enhanced wind gusts and a potential for isolated tornadoes. In addition, a period of low level wind shear is expected, primarily during 10z-16z this morning, however strong surface gusts and very strong and shifting winds with height will dominate through this entire TAF valid period at all sites, dangerous aviation conditions for smaller aircraft in particular. Once the intense tropical rainband lifts N and NE of the area, after about 21z, VFR conditions are expected through the end of the TAF valid period. Surface winds will be mainly from E and ESE, shifting to be from the SE and SSE this morning, and finally from the S this afternoon, gradually diminishing starting mid to late afternoon. Looking beyond 12z Sat, sub-VFR cigs may return esp across the NE (RDU/RWI) after 08z early Sat morning, lasting until improving to VFR by mid morning. Otherwise, VFR conditions will dominate through Tue, with possible exceptions late Sun (rain chances mainly INT/GSO), Mon afternoon (rain chances areawide), and early Tue morning (chance of sub-VFR fog). -GIH && .HYDROLOGY... As of 305 PM Thursday... Will issue a Flood Watch for the Piedmont and Sandhills region of central NC for tonight through 6pm Friday. Multiple rounds and bands of rain and thunderstorms will spread north across central NC through Friday. Given recent wet conditions, streamflows across Central North Carolina are significantly above normal per 7–14 day USGS stream flows. NASA SPoRT soil moisture percentiles are above the 90th percentile in the 0–10 cm and 0–40 cm layer across the southern coastal plain. In addition, 1-3 hr hour Flash Flood Guidance is essentially below 2 inches across most of the Piedmont. While the heaviest rain associated with Helene will be focused across the foothills and mountains, a general 1-3 inches with embedded heavier rain rate will cause a risk of flash flooding through late Friday afternoon. This will be especially true where creeks and streams are already swollen, and there are even some areas with ongoing road closures owing to rainfall over the past 2 to 3 days. Lower rainfall totals and a reduced threat of locally heavy rain across the northern and central Coastal Plain results in a reduced flood threat and have omitted those locations from the watch. Main stem river flooding is not expected to be as significant of an issue based on the 1-3 inch rain forecast, although heavy rates in the vicinity of the Rocky River near Norwood, which drain from west to east and may see heavier rain upstream, and also the routing of significantly heavier rainfall in the upper reaches of the Yadkin River may cause some flooding in the Yadkin basin. The Neuse and Tar are also abnormally high with the Neuse at Smithfield currently in minor flood. && .CLIMATE... Record High Minimum Temperatures: September 27: KGSO: 69/2011 KRDU: 73/2011 KFAY: 73/2017 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through this afternoon for NCZ007-021>025-038>042- 073>077-083>086-088-089. Wind Advisory until 6 PM EDT this evening for NCZ007-021>025- 038>042-073>077-083>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...Hartfield NEAR TERM...Swiggett SHORT TERM...Swiggett LONG TERM...Hartfield AVIATION...Hartfield/Swiggett HYDROLOGY...Blaes CLIMATE...RAH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 642 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 NCZ083>086-088-089-281045- Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson- 642 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 687 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North 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. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. NCZ007-021>025-038>042-073>077-281045- Person-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-Durham-Davidson-Randolph- Chatham-Wake-Johnston-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett- 642 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North 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. Wind Advisory. In addition, embedded thunderstorms in advance of Tropical Cyclone Helene will pose a risk of isolated tornadoes through mid afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ008>011-026>028-043-078-281045- Granville-Vance-Warren-Halifax-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Wilson-Wayne- 642 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Bands of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms will pose a risk of flooding and isolated tornadoes on Friday. Strong wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph will also be possible Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
742 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
NCZ083-084-271215-
Anson NC-Richmond NC-
742 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN ANSON AND CENTRAL
RICHMOND COUNTIES THROUGH 815 AM EDT...
At 741 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Chavistown, or near Cheraw, moving north at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Rockingham, Hamlet, Ellerbe, Lilesville, McFarlan, Diggs, East
Rockingham, and Blewett Falls Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Doppler radar has indicated weak rotation with this storm. If the
storm intensifies and rotation strengthens, a warning may need to be
issued.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 AM EDT for central North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3481 7997 3511 8006 3515 7973 3480 7970
TIME...MOT...LOC 1141Z 170DEG 46KT 3469 7981
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
NTLPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
814 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0752 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WSW Stanfield 35.22N 80.46W
09/27/2024 Stanly NC 911 Call Center
A tree fell on a house near the intersection
of River Rd and Renee Ford Rd in Midland.
Time estimated by radar.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
856 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
NCZ038-271330-
Davidson NC-
856 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL DAVIDSON COUNTY THROUGH
930 AM EDT...
At 855 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
High Rock Lake, or 10 miles south of Lexington, moving north at 50
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Lexington, Linwood, Arcadia, High Rock Boat Dock Marina, Welcome, Nc
Wildlife Access Boat Launch, High Rock Lake Marina & Campground, High
Rock, and High Rock Lake.
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.
Doppler radar has indicated weak rotation with this storm. If the
storm intensifies and rotation strengthens, a warning may need to be
issued.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3585 8042 3584 8039 3585 8038 3587 8039
3588 8042 3589 8041 3589 8037 3596 8038
3597 8039 3600 8032 3599 8023 3558 8021
3568 8033 3571 8032 3572 8033 3572 8039
3583 8043
TIME...MOT...LOC 1255Z 176DEG 41KT 3566 8028
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
26Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
920 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
NCZ086-088-271345-
Hoke NC-Cumberland NC-
920 AM EDT Fri Sep 27 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CUMBERLAND AND HOKE
COUNTIES THROUGH 945 AM EDT...
At 920 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Buie, or near Red Springs, moving north at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Fayetteville, Raeford, Fort Liberty, Antioch, Pope AFB, Hope Mills,
Spring Lake, Silver City, Rockfish, and Bowmore.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Doppler radar has indicated weak rotation with this storm. If the
storm intensifies and rotation strengthens, a warning may need to be
issued.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3484 7933 3511 7939 3515 7935 3519 7929
3519 7917 3518 7916 3517 7914 3518 7913
3517 7912 3517 7910 3519 7909 3520 7906
3521 7889 3493 7898 3495 7904 3483 7919
TIME...MOT...LOC 1320Z 190DEG 48KT 3471 7918
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
NTLThe Roanoke radar (KFCX), 112 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:31 UTC.
18 flash flood, 4 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees were reported down across the city of Greensboro.
Hills Ford Road near Hills View Road was closed due to flooding.
Flooding was reported near Jack's Branch Road and Red Hill - Mount Vernon Road.
George Wright Road was closed due to flooding.
A road was closed near Drake Street due to flooding.
Flooding was reported on Cliffdale Road.
A road was closed due to flooding at a low water bridge.
A tornado touched down just southwest of the intersection of Highway 210 and Turney Berry Lane, where it snapped numerous 12 diameter pine trees and uprooted large blueberry bushes. It moved north-northeast, and crossed Peter Cromartie Road, where minor roof damage was noted, along with several snapped trees. The tornado continued north-northeast to the Bladen-Sampson county line, exiting the county near the Helltown Road bridge across the South River. Numerous large trees were snapped near the county line, along with downed power lines.
Numerous trees snapped along Helltown Rd around the county border area with power lines downed and an outbuilding damaged by fallen tree. Along and near Elwell Road, large, healthy, and leafy oak tree was uprooted with saturated soils. Numerous large limbs snapped out of oak tree with a few other limbs snapped out of nearby trees.
Widespread flooding was reported in a neighborhood.
A large tree was down and blocking Holly Springs Road near the intersection of Lilly Atkins Road.
Flooding was reported in a residence in the 700 block of Wortley Drive.
A vehicle was trapped in floodwaters on Lakewood Avenue near South Street.
Flooding was reported in the Durham Central Park area.
Street flooding occurred on Atlantic Avenue, based on high water sensors.
Creeks were flooding parks and trails in the Shepherds Vineyard area.
Pigeon House Creek at Fenton Street rose above flood stage.
Several roads were flooded in Clinton.
High water was reported on several roads in and around Goldsboro.
A powerful but brief tornado touched down in Rocky Mount North Carolina around 12:30 PM. While the path was short, the damage was intense, as all but one of the masonry exterior walls was blown over at an auto repair shop, and another nearby brick building was completely leveled with none of the walls left standing. Many of the surrounding building were damaged from brick and masonry blocks that were picked up and thrown into the walls and windows of the nearby buildings. Dozens of vehicles, including several large trucks, were picked up and tossed around.
Several water rescues were conducted across Wayne County during flash flooding.
Several roads were flooded in Wilson, including at Ward Boulevard and Westwood Avenue, with several feet of water on the road.
Several roads were flooded in Whitakers.
A tornado touched down northeast of the town of Hampton, near Camp Butner Rd and Range Rd. A mixture of soft and hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado moved northeast and damaged additional trees near a residential area north of the intersection of Range Rd and Isham Chambers Rd. It also damaged some roof covering of a large barn and uprooted a large softwood tree. The tornado lifted just north of Bahama Rd and Red Mountain Rd.
A tornado touched down over a large private building near Technology Ln and Poplar Creek Rd east of Oxford. The tornado ripped off the roof of the building and moved two HVAC units. The tornado crossed over Interstate 85 and into the Vance and Granville community college campus, breaking and snapping some soft and hardwood trees. The tornado then lifted just north of the community college, however roof debris from the private building was found lofted into a residential tree north of US Highway 158.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Carolina, 2024Warnings in North Carolina, September 2024
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1216536, 1216527, 1216528, 1216529, 1216531, 1216532, 1216533, 1210444, 1216534, 1216547, 1216535, 1216537, 1216541, 1216539, 1216538, 1216540, 1216542, 1216543, 1210445, 1216545, 1216544, 1216546, 1210449, 1210448.