The cleanup continues in parts of the southeast after a combination of storms, including the remnants of Hurricane Helene, devastated the area. As of Oct. 7, fatalities have reached the hundreds, with the number expected to rise.
What You Need To Know
- A stalled frontal boundary brought days of rain to the southeast prior to Helene making landfall
- Orographic lift enhanced the rain in the mountains
- Meteorologists and government officials did their best to relay the messages of flash flooding dangers
Rainfall totals in the mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina were measured by feet. However, the tremendous amount of rain can’t solely be blamed on Helene. Another synoptic-scale meteorological feature was at play.
The Timeline
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted a region in the western Caribbean Sea on Sept. 17 for possible tropical development. It took a few days for it to become organized, but it began to get its act together and formed a low pressure on Sept. 22. Due to its proximity to land, the NHC designated it as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 the next day.
Rain Ahead of Helene
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, rain began falling from the stalled frontal boundary along the Appalachians. Asheville collected 4.09 inches. The same day, Helene moved into the Gulf of Mexico and was upgraded to a hurricane.
Communication is Key
NWS was now messaging, “Prepare for catastrophic, life-threatening flooding.” Another message, that same day, contained the language: “This has the potential to be an extremely rare event with catastrophic flash-flooding that hasn’t been seen in the modern era… Numerous landslides expected.”
Helene’s Landfall
Hurricane Helene made landfall just after 11 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 as a Category 4 with winds of 140 mph along Florida’s Big Bend, near Perry, Fla. Once inland, Helene weakened, but also picked up speed.
As it moved north in Georgia during the early morning hours on Sept. 27, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. The center of the storm stayed just west of Anderson, S.C. and Asheville, N.C.
This put both areas on the eastern side of the storm. This side, also known as the “dirty side” contains heavy rain and wind. Thanks to the orographic lift and the influences from that stalled boundary, moisture was enhanced.
Consequence
Unfortunately, as seen through pictures and videos, this forecast became a reality and much of the area was devastated. The highest rainfall includes the higher elevations with Busick, N.C. picking up 30.78 inches throughout the event.
At the time of this writing, there were still several hundred people missing, with the emotional and financial costs still yet to be tallied. This event will be remembered as one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the United States, surpassing even Hurricane Katrina 24 years ago.
More Storm Season Resources
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Conclude
The devastating impact of the storms and Hurricane Helene will be felt for years to come. We encourage readers to stay prepared for future storms and flooding by staying informed and keeping track of weather updates.
**FAQs**
What was Hurricane Helene?
Hurricane Helene was a strong hurricane that made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend and affected several southeastern states before causing catastrophic flooding in parts of North Carolina and South Carolina.
How much rainfall was recorded in the areas affected by the storm?
Rainfall totals were measured in feet, with Busick, North Carolina reporting 30.78 inches of rain throughout the event.
What was the timeline of the storm event?
The storm event began when the stalled frontal boundary started bringing rain to the Southeast, followed by Hurricane Helene’s landfall on Thursday, Sept. 26. The rain continued well into Friday, Sept. 27, causing flash flooding and devastating the areas.
What was the biggest concern for meteorologists before and during the storm event?
Meteorologists were concerned about flash flooding and catastrophic floods caused by the heavy rain from the stalled frontal boundary combined with Helene.
