Tropical Storm Helene is now the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, and meteorologists are concerned about its rapid intensification.
According to the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) 11 a.m. public advisory, Helene is nearing hurricane strength as it prepares to make landfall in the far northeastern Caribbean Sea early Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Tropical storm conditions are anticipated over portions of western Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula's northwestern coast, where hurricane conditions are possible. Helene is also expected to increase in strength over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, becoming a major hurricane as it approaches the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday.
Hurricane and storm surge watches are currently in effect for the Florida Panhandle coast and Florida west coast due to the risk of impacts from damaging hurricane force winds and life-threatening storm surges. In portions of the western Caribbean, Helene will bring heavy rainfall, causing considerable flooding and mudslides across western Cuba. This will likely result in locally considerable and flash and urban flooding across portions of Florida. It will also likely cause isolated flash and urban flooding in the Southeast, Southern Appalachians, and the Tennessee Valley Wednesday through Friday, with minor to moderate river flooding possible.
Here's what to know about the storm's current trajectory and what impact it will have as it makes its way to North Carolina and South Carolina later in the week.
Where is Helene now?
As of 11 a.m., the NHC tracked the center of Helene near latitude 19.5 North, longitude 84.3 west. The storm is now moving toward the northwest near 12 miles per hour ― a general motion expected to continue going into early Wednesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, a northward to north-northeastward motion will move at a faster forward speed. A forecast track of Helene indicates the storm will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, with the potential to reach the Gulf Coast of Florida late Thursday.
The storm system has acquired a well-defined center of circulation, with maximum sustained winds increasing to near 45 miles per hour, according to data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles per hour to the east of the center.
How will the storm impact Western NC?
Rainfall from Thursday through Friday morning is projected to be heavy on the North and South Carolina border, with amounts of 8 inches near Lake Cashiers and the Bay Ridge area of Oconee County over to Tryon, according to Doug Outlaw, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greer, S.C. Across the mountains, Franklin is expected to receive 6 inches of rain, Fletcher 7 inches, and the Mount Pigsah area 7-8 inches.
It will be windy over WNC and the mountains, with flooding and power outages likely. Toward Charlotte and Raleigh, wind speeds will be low.
How will the storm impact Upstate SC?
From Thursday through Friday morning, the Greenville area can expect to receive 6.5 inches of rainfall, said Outlaw. This may cause flooding in urban areas, with water rising from the Reedy, Saluda, and Emory River. While power outages remain a risk with this storm due to high winds and fallen trees, the probability of tornadoes forming is low.
Helene's projected wind patterns in the Upstate
Wind patterns from the tropical storm were described by Outlaw as follows:
∎ Thursday morning: Easterly winds of 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
∎ Thursday afternoon: Winds will increase to 15 to 20 mph with gusts over 30 mph.
∎ Thursday night: Winds will be 20 to 25 mph from the east with gusts up to 35 mph.
∎ Friday morning: Winds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts over 40 mph.
∎ Friday afternoon: Conditions will improve Friday night, with winds diminishing.
When will Helene clear out of the area?
Helene is expected to clear out of the Upstate and WNC by Friday night going into the weekend. Rain is not expected for Saturday or Sunday.
"On Friday afternoon, we'll have improving conditions," Outlaw said. "The rain will slowly be coming to an end. The wind will be decreasing. The low will be moving away from us, and everything will get back to normal. And then for the weekend it'll be dry and calm, and high temperatures Saturday and Sunday in the mid 70s for Greenville and low temperatures at night near 60."
If you can pick it up, put it up
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division provided the followings tips to residents in preparation for Helene's arrival:
∎ Trim trees around your house.
∎ Bring loose outdoor items indoors.
∎ Clear gutters and drains.
∎ Stay up to date on the weather forecast.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Tropical Storm Helene: Heavy rain, flooding possible in Western NC. Here's the latest.
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