CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Flood warnings were issued for several counties in the Charlotte area on Wednesday as Hurricane Helene prepared to make landfall in the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for several Charlotte metro counties, including one in South Carolina, as Helene expects excessive rainfall. The flood warnings were active as of Wednesday, September 25, and were set to end at different times depending on the county.

A flood warning was in effect this week in the following districts:

• Alexander County – until Friday afternoon
• Ashe County – until Thursday evening
• Avery County – until Friday afternoon
• Burke County – until Friday afternoon
• Caldwell County – until Friday afternoon
• Catawba County – until Friday afternoon
• Cleveland County – until Friday afternoon
• Lincoln County – until Friday afternoon
• Union County (South Carolina) – until Friday afternoon

Showers and thunderstorms were forecast for some areas as early as Wednesday, with even heavier rain expected in the Carolinas on Thursday, September 26.

Rain chances will increase in the Charlotte area on Thursday, with the heaviest rain and winds expected in the Carolinas Thursday night and Friday morning. The mountains and foothills near Charlotte could receive 6-10 inches or more of rain from Helene. The Charlotte metro could see 4-6 inches.

The excessive rainfall may cause flooding and flash flooding. The “multiple heavy rain events” this week could cause flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and “other low-lying and flood-prone areas,” according to the NWS.

The flooding could cause “significant and destructive damage,” especially in Avery, Burke and Caldwell counties, the NWS said.

Rainfall amounts of “9 to 14 inches (23 to 35 centimeters) could be expected in these counties, with locally higher amounts expected along the entire length of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, while widespread 5 to 9 inches (12 to 23 centimeters) are expected in the rest of the mountains. This could be an extremely rare event that could result in significant and destructive flash flooding along numerous rivers.”

—> Caldwell County officials declare state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene

Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida late Thursday evening as a major hurricane on the Gulf of Mexico. By the end of the week, the storm is expected to bring significant rainfall to the Carolinas, especially in the west.

You can find all warnings in detail here.

Tips for emergency preparedness

The North Carolina governor’s office said Monday that people in the path of the storm are urged to take the following steps:

• Get emergency information in multiple ways, including alerts and alarms. Make sure emergency alerts are turned on on your phone and download a weather app.
• Have an emergency plan. Know where you would go if you had to evacuate. Make a plan to stay with family, friends, or in a hotel. Public shelters should be a last resort.
• Stock up on emergency supplies or replenish your emergency kit. For information on putting together an emergency kit, visit ReadyNC.gov.
• Never drive through flooded roads or around road barricades.
• Make sure you know where to seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued for your area.
• Make sure you have multiple ways to receive alerts, especially given the possibility of severe storms during the overnight hours.
• Check if your municipality offers emergency alert services for its residents.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.

Here you can find our current weather forecasts online. Follow our latest reports on the WBTV Weather App.

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