ASHEVILLE, NC (WLOS) — Due to a significant and rare risk of flooding, weather warning days begin on Wednesday evening and last until Friday.

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg said in its forecast briefing on Wednesday that “the potential for severe to catastrophic flooding is becoming more likely in portions of our forecast area.”

Rain showers will spread across western North Carolina and the Upstate Wednesday afternoon and evening before a cold front moves in. Precipitation amounts will increase with this activity as a southeasterly flow pushes warm, moist air up our mountain slopes.

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By Thursday morning, parts of the region, particularly the Blue Ridge Escarpment, are expected to receive more than two inches of rain.

It will rain all day on Thursday. During the night from Thursday to Friday the amount of precipitation will increase again thanks to the approach of Helene.

INTERACTIVE RADAR

The current storm track takes the weakening storm west of the western Carolinas and brings us into the zone of strong southeasterly flow, which will again produce maximum rainfall amounts through Thursday night and Friday morning.

Parts of the mountains could see a total of 15 to 20 inches of rainfall by Friday afternoon. Widespread rainfall of 8 to 12 inches is expected across the region.

There is a very high risk of flash floods, river flooding and landslides. A flood warning is in effect until Friday afternoon.

CURRENT WEATHER

There is also a risk of tornadoes on this side of the storm track from Thursday evening to Friday morning.

Winds will be strongest across the region Thursday night into Friday afternoon. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the entire area as tropical storm force winds of 35 to 60 MPH are possible over the next 48 hours.

Conditions will improve by Friday evening and into the weekend.