[Update: The National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm to a Category 2 Thursday morning.]
SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Just more than a week after an unnamed storm dumped 20 inches of rain in some areas of Brunswick County and Carolina Beach, a hurricane is slated to make landfall in Florida Thursday, before trekking north and affecting portions of the Carolinas.
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While tropical storm warnings have been issued for nearby coastal regions in South Carolina, as of Wednesday they stop just shy of Brunswick County. Locally, the National Weather Service Wilmington is predicting rainfall between 1 and 2 inches, with higher amounts in some areas.
Depending on Hurricane Helene’s trajectory, NWS said information could change, including rainfall totals. NWS will continue providing updates in coming days to keep the public informed.
Right now, Helene is anticipated to reach the Big Bend area of Florida along the Gulf Coast by Thursday evening. While it’s a Category 1 storm currently, it could intensify over the Gulf’s warm waters into a Category 3 or 4 by landfall.
“Due to its large physical size, effects will be felt far away from the storm center, especially to its east,” according to NWS.
Officials in Brunswick County said they continue to monitor the storm as NWS has predicted rainfall to begin late Thursday into Friday, with higher amounts possible in some area. There could also be 25-mile-per-hour winds, isolated tornadoes and minor coastal flooding.
This will particularly be problematic during high tides, with flooding expected at the Lower Cape Fear River. Hazardous marine conditions also will be in effect, with up to 10-foot seas.
The current predicted path has the storm moving north northwest through Georgia and Tennessee, also affecting the North Carolina mountains. Heavy rainfall and increased wind gusts threaten areas like Asheville, which are expecting upward of 12 inches of rainfall. The region already is under a flood warning.
“Helene threatens heavy rain, flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds to the mountains and Piedmont areas of our state,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a release Wednesday.
He signed an executive order declaring North Carolina under a state of emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival.
“Now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare, make sure emergency kits are up-to-date and pay attention to the weather alerts in your area,” Cooper said.
The order activates the State Emergency Response Team. This includes preparing equipment, personnel and resources, as well as partner agencies such as the North Carolina Swift Water Rescue Teams and Urban Search and Rescue Teams, the North Carolina National Guard, and communications and management support.
This order also allows the NCDOT and department of public safety to properly outfit the roads with more vehicles to address power outages or flooded roadways, and allow vehicles carrying supplies to reach areas in need.
Anyone in the path of Helene should take the following measures, the governor’s office advises:
- Have multiple ways to receive emergency information, including watches and warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your cell phone and monitor local new outlets and the National Weather Service.
- Ensure that you have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially with the potential for severe storms to be moving through during nighttime hours.
- Have an emergency plan. Know where you would go if you need to evacuate, especially if you live in a flood prone area.
- Gather emergency supplies or refresh your emergency kit. Visit ReadyNC.gov for info on how to build an emergency kit.
- Never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades. Turn around. Don’t drown.
- Make sure you know where to seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued for your area.
- Check to see if your local emergency management office offers emergency alert services for its residents. You can visit your county government website for more information.
- Avoid unnecessary travel. If you do not need to drive, stay home. You can find current roadway conditions by visiting DriveNC.Gov.
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