ASHEVILLE – Following the catastrophic flooding of Western North Carolina resulting from Tropical Storm Helene and a predecessor rainfall event, the National Weather Service is forecasting clearer skies as WNC works to repair affected communities.
As predicted by meteorologists, Helene brought widespread destruction to WNC, shattering records for rainfall and river levels over three days of driving rain and heavy winds. Many WNC residents were forced to evacuate to temporary shelters as landslides and flooding destroyed area homes.
Though the worst of the weather has passed, we may see more rain tonight. Here’s what the NWS is predicting for the week, rainfall amounts WNC received and more.
More: Asheville, NC floods live updates: Asheville City Schools, others will be closed Monday
Flooding, weather forecast in WNC
After several days of devastating flooding in WNC, flood and flash flood warnings are beginning to end. In Asheville, one flood warning for the Swannanoa River at Biltmore affecting Buncombe County remains active until 1 p.m. Sept. 29.
Regardless of the status of warnings, a NWS hazardous weather outlook for Asheville issued at 3:28 a.m. the morning of Sept. 29 said that flooding continues to be a problem across portions of WNC. The alert advised residents to continue monitoring warnings and heeding all official instructions for evacuations and road closures.
Some scattered showers are expected today into tonight – and while the rainfall amounts are expected to remain light this time – less than 1 inch in Asheville – the alert warned that isolated excessive runoff is possible for areas that received heavy rainfall and flooding from Helene.
Beginning tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 1, the NWS alert said that no further hazardous weather was expected for the week as WNC works to restore power and water, distribute supplies to those in need and slowly repair extensive damage to affected communities.
Record rainfall in Asheville
NWS Meteorologist Doug Outlaw told the Citizen Times that the rainfall WNC saw beat the previous record for September in only three days.
According to Outlaw, the former NWS record for rainfall during the month of September in Asheville was 13.71 inches in 2004. During the effects of Helene and the predecessor storm, Asheville saw 17.31 inches over the course of three days, Sept. 25-27. The total for the entire month so far is 17.88.
Additionally, individual dates saw records broken. Outlaw said the past record for a single day of rain on Sept. 26 was 1.71 inches, with the new record resting at 5.78 inches. Sept. 27 was a similar story, with a previous record of 1.98 inches and current record of 4.11 inches.
More: Western North Carolina residents wait in line for essentials after devastation from Helene
How much rain fell during Helene?
WNC rainfall amounts varied, with some of the most affected areas seeing over 20 inches in three days. Here are the rainfall amounts recorded for several WNC areas between Sept. 25-27 according to NWS records:
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Spruce Pine – 24.12 inches
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Hendersonville – 21.96 inches
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Candler – 16.18 inches
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Grandfather Mountain – 15.42 inches
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Asheville – 17.31 inches
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Woodfin – 6.17 inches
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Bat Cave – 6.88 inches
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Lake Lure – 7.24 inches
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Mills River – 12.16 inches
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Swannanoa – 13.21 inches
More: Western North Carolina roads closed, travel nearly impossible after Helene
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: More rain in Asheville: Here’s what the NWS forecasts for this week
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