The National Weather Service predicts the Nolichuckey River could crest at 15.5 feet early Saturday. That would put the river just below mean flood level and would be the highest level since the rainy season of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan in 2004.

The river had reached a depth of just over 9 feet at the official gauging station in Unicoi County on Thursday. The river had risen due to heavy rains from a stalled cold front that dropped over 6 inches of rain in parts of the basin.

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle later Thursday, bringing torrential rain to the area overnight and into Friday. Some parts of western North Carolina could see 8 to 12 inches of rain, all of which will drain into the Nolichuckey. These rainfalls, coupled with existing runoff, could push the river to its sixth highest level since records began through the early 20th century.

The river’s highest recorded value was in the floods of 1901, when the river reached 24 feet. In 1977, the river peaked at 21.52 feet, which was the year many of the bridges over the river were washed away.

The forecast is subject to change and the river top level could be higher or lower depending on the exact direction of rainfall. Stay tuned this weekend for more details.