Flooding has become widespread with rounds of heavy rain and rotating cells and strong gusts already within the first outer bands of Helene that have reached the Carolinas. Helene has intensified into a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 105 mph. It is still hundreds of miles from making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida. The storm is very large with tropical storm force winds expanding more than 350 miles from center. Catostrophic storm surge up to 20 feet is possible for parts of the Florida coast. Local impacts will continue with the worst hazards arriving tonight through Friday morning. Flash Flooding: Flash Flood Watches have expanded as an additional 6-10″ of rainfall will still be possible with the highest totals for the mountains and foothills. Flash flooding will become more widespread with landslides likely for the mountain communtities. Once the heavy rain from Helene ends, river flooding will be an ongoing concern with major flooding possible across the Broad and Catawba River basins that will extend into next week. Wind Damage: Gusts 50-60 mph will be possible as Helene moves further inland. This will easily take down trees and cause widespread power outages. The strongest gusts will arrive during the morning commute before gradually tapering off through the evening Friday. Tornadoes: The threat of tornadoes is increasing tonight into Friday morning for areas near and east of I-77. There is quite a bit of low level shear that will cause a few of these storms to rotate within the outer rain bands. Tropical tornadoes tend to be rain wrapped and difficult to see. The remnants of Helene will take a turn to the north and west Friday afternoon before stalling over the Tennessee Valley. PREVIOUS UPDATE 11PM 9/25 Helene is now forecast strengthen to a category 4 hurricane at landfall. Impacts have not changed. This will be a devastating storm that causes significant damage far inland and far from the center of the storm.   Alerts: Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the entire state of South Carolina and part of our North Carolinas including Union, Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, Catawba, Burke, Caldwell and Avery counties. This warning is in effect until further notice. This is the 4th Tropical Storm Warning in Charlotte since 2018. Local Impacts: Timing: Thursday through 2 PM Friday – The worst of the weather for us will come Friday 4 AM – 11 AM Rainfall: The totals increase the farther west you are. Mountains and Foothills: 6-10”+ isolated 15”. Piedmont: 2-5” Wind: Sustained 15-25 mph. Gusts up to 55 mph. Tornado: Isolated with the greatest threat just east of our area. Power Outages: Scattered Landslides/Mudslides: Possible in the Mountains What You Can Do: Charge your devices. Clear storm drains. Secure Objects In Yard. Do not park your car under trees. Hurricane Helene Key Points: This will be a historic storm Helene is BIG There will be major and significant impacts far inland Storm surge up to 18 feet possible from Carrabelle, Florida to Anclote River, Florida Helene is now a Category 1 Hurricane with sustained windss of 80 mph. It is expected to bring life threatening storm surge, damaging wind and flooding rain to Florida and throughout the southeast. It is forecast to strengthen rapidly in the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and become a major category 3 hurricane by Thursday morning. There has not been much change to the track with landfall likely for the Big Bend Region of Florida Thursday night. Local impacts will begin Thursday with peak impacts Thursday night through Friday morning. After landfall in Florida Helene will slow and turn northwest stalling over the Tennessee Valley late Friday through the weekend. Watches and Warnings: Hurricane Warning – Anclote River to Mexico Beach, FL Storm Surge Warning –  Indian Pass to Flamingo, FL Storm Surge Watch – West of Indian Pass to Mexico B Tropical Storm Warnings – The Florida Keys, Mexico Beach to Okaloosa, Flamingo FL to South Santee River, SC Tropical Storm Watch – South Santee River to Little River Inlet, SC Impacts: Storm Surge – Life threatening storm surge of 10-15 feet along the Big Bend Coast Wind – Hurricane force wind as far inland as Southern Georgia Rainfall – 5-10 inches with up to 15 inches localized rainfall across the southeast leading to flash flooding and landslides Tornadoes – A few tornadoes are possible for Florida, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas beginning Thursday night Local Watches and Impacts: Although the center of Helena will stay well west of the region, the storm is large with significant impacts beginning locally Thursday night through Friday morning. Flash Flood Watches are in effect from US Highway 321 west to the mountains, along with Tropical Storm Watches for tropical storm force winds. Rainfall – 3-6 inches from the I-77 corridor to 321. 6-10+ inches from 321 to the mountains. Flash flooding and landslides will be the biggest hazards, especially with 1-3 inches of rain likely ahead of Helene for the mountains and foothills. Wind – Gusts of 50-65 mph will be possible for counties under a tropical storm watch Friday morning. The rest of the region could still see 35-45 mph gusts. This will be enough to bring down trees and cause numerous power outages. Tornadoes – isolated, embedded tornadoes possible within the outer bands of Helena Conditions will improve beginning Friday afternoon. However, river flooding will be a concern even after the rain ends and will need to be monitored. PREVIOUS UPDATE 11PM 9/25 As of 11 PM Tuesday, Tropical Storm Helene is strengthening and will become hurricane Helene Wednesday. With the storm going over very warm water in a low wind shear environment, we will see rapid strengthening until landfall. Key Points For Tropical Storm Helene: Helene formed in the Caribbean Sea today and is currently a Tropical Storm A major category 3 hurricane is forecast to hit Florida Thursday There is good model agreement with a landfall southeast of Tallahassee, Florida – near Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday. 15’ storm surge is possible near and east of the center Impacts from Helene will be felt far from the center Local Impacts: TIMING: Thursday & Friday RAIN: 5-10” west of I-77 with the highest amounts in the Mountains and Foothills. 2-5” for the Piedmont. FLOOD: Significant flooding is possible for the western Carolinas with 5-10’’+ expected. WIND: Tropical Storm force winds are likely. POWEROUTAGES: With that and a lot of rain, expect some downed trees and power lines. TORNADO: Mainly east of I-77. Current Local Alerts: Flood Watch in effect Wednesday morning through Friday afternoon for Avery County and the mountains of Burke and Caldwell counties. PREVIOUS UPDATE 8 AM 9/24 As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 (PTC 9) remains disorganized, but it is gradually strengthening as it moves northwest toward the Gulf of Mexico. The system currently lacks a well defined center – thanks in part to southwesterly shear currently limiting development. Conditions are forecast to improve with shear decreasing just as the storm taps into the warm waters of the Gulf. This will likely lead to rapid intensification with the storm forecast to become a hurricane by Wednesday and a major hurricane before landfall over the Florida Panhandle Thursday. Watches and Warnings: Hurricane Watch for the FL Gulf Coast Tropical Storm Warning for Cuba, Mexico and Grand Cayman Islands Storm Surge Watch for the FL Gulf Coast Impacts: Rainfall 4-8 inches of rain over western Cuba & the Cayman Islands, with isolated totals up to 12 inches 3-6 inches of rain over the southeast with up to 10 inches isolated totals possible Storm Surge 10-15 feet of surge possible for the Florida Gulf Coast Wind Hurricane force wind possible along the Florida Panhandle and West Gulf Coast by late Wednesday – Thursday Tropical Storm force winds could reach as far inland as the Carolinas after landfall Local Impacts: Flash Flooding A stalled front west of the region will help funnel tropical moisture into the region beginning Wednesday This along with rainfall from Helene will lead to totals of 4-6″ near the I-77 corridor with higher totals up to 8″+ for the mountains and foothills Gusty Winds 30-40 mph gusts Bring Down Trees Scattered Power Outages Tornadoes Isolated, Short-Lived and Rain-Wrapped   PREVIOUS UPDATE 9/23 11PM Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 is forecast to become Hurricane Helene by the middle of the week. From there, rapid strengthening is possible. Computer models are in good agreement with landfall near Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday, but anyone from Destin, Florida to Tampa, Florida needs to pay very close attention to shifts in the forecast. It is still too soon to pinpoint an exact location for landfall, but impacts will be felt far from the center – especially east of the center. Note: The reason you do not see a 'category 3' on the map is because it is expected to happen between the 60-72 hours shown. CAROLINA IMPACTS: Rain: This will be a big rainmaker for us in the Piedmont… even more so for those in the mountains and western North Carolina. Significant flooding is possible across the mountains on Friday. Wind: It is still too soon to confidently say, but tropical storm force winds (39 – 73 mph) are likely. Outages: With several inches of rain and tropical storm force winds, downed trees and power outages are likely. Tornadoes: With the Carolinas being east of the center, isolated tornadoes are not out of the question. Storm Surge: There will likely be a significant storm surge for some on the west coast of Florida. It is too soon to say how big the surge could be and who will see the worst of it. We have to wait until the storm organizes. PREVIOUS UPDATE 9/23 11 AM Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 remains disorganized but, there is a high liklihood that it will become a tropical depression or tropical storm within the next 24-48 hours. Helene is the next name on the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Name List. It is located about 130 miles SSW of Grand Cayman and moving slowly to the north before it is forecast to take a northwest turn in the next few days. It is expected to pass throug hthe Yucatan Channel and enter into the Southern Gulf of Mexico by midweek. Tropical Storm Warnings and Hurricane Watches are currently in effect for Mexico and Cuba. The storm will accelerate northward across the eastern Gulf and approach Florida by Thursday. Models are in pretty good agreement with the forecast track, but due to the lack of a well-defined center there remains a lot of uncertainty with the forecast. Envirnomental conditions in the Gulf are highly favorable for this storm to intensify. Gulf waters are above 85 degrees, there is plenty of moisture, and shear is relatively low in the Eastern Gulf. The National Hurricane Center is anticipating significant strengthening with the storm forecast to become a strong category 2 hurricane by Thursday. Impacts: Rainfall – 4-8 inches for Western Cuba and the Cayman Islands with isolated areas up to 12 inches. Heavy rain is expected for the southeast U.S. starting Wednesday with the potential for flash and river flooding. Storm Surge – 2-4 feet for the Southern Coast of Cuba and parts of the Yucatan Peninsula. Wind – Tropcial storm conditions are expected in the warning area by Tuesday with hurricane conditions possible for areas under the watch by Wednesday.