AM Headlines: Flash Flood Watch Tropical Storm Helene Flooding & Wind Threat Quieter Weekend WeatherWise Alerts: Flash Flooding Threat Today Where: Foothills, Mountains, isolated areas west of I-77 Rainfall Totals: 2-3 inches Helene Impacts Thursday PM – Friday AM Rainfall: 3-6 additional inches of rain, causing flash flooding & landslides Wind Gusts: 35-50 mph, causing downed trees & power outages Tornado Threat: Isolated within outer bands Discussion: A stalled front to our west is setting up a very wet, and potentially dangerous flooding situation for the region beginning today. The stalled front and an upper level low to our northwest will act as a funnel pulling tropical moisture into the western edge of our region today. Showers and heavier rain will become more steady through the day with 2-3″ of rain possible form the I-77 corridor west with the highest totals across the mountains and foothills. A Flood Watch is in effect for the mountains and foothills through Friday. Helene is still forecast to rapidly intensify today becoming a major hurricane before landfall Thursday night. The NHC has been trending west, but considering the intensity and size of the storm, would not be surprised to see that track come back a little further east over the next day or two. This would mean greater impacts to the region. Rain will expand across the region Thursday with steady and heavy rain Thursday night through Friday morning. An additional 3-6″ of rainfall will be likely for the region leading to landslides across the higher elevations and flash flooding for the rest of the area. Gusty winds up to 35-50 mph will also be possible, leading to downed trees and power outages. As of the current track, this also puts us at risk for isolated tornadoes embedded within the outer bands of Helene. Personally, I would advise people to stay off the roads Friday morning if they can with the threat of heavy downpours, flooding and gusty winds causing major issues for commuters. Impacts will peak Friday morning with conditions improving by Friday afternoon.