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Helene could dump 15 inches of rain; NWS issues flood watch

By Bill Moss, Published: September 25, 2024

Tropical storm Helene, which is expected to strengthen to a category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Florida's Big Bend, could dump up to 15 inches of rain in the Henderson County area Wednesday through Friday, the National Weather Service said. The weather service issued a flood watch from Wednesday morning through Friday afternoon and warned that major flash flooding is possible.

"The main concern is going to be flooding," NWS meteorolgist Thomas Winesett said Tuesday night. "We’re going to have heavy rain tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon." Waves of rain Thursday afternoon and early Friday morning could bring up to 15 inches of rain, with the highest totals expected in southern Henderson County.

"We're concerned about the potential for significant flooding," Winesett said. "This could be at the higher end of flash flooding."

Potential wind gusts of 40-50 mph raise the risk of power outages as the big blow batters vulnerable trees.

"Saturated soil could become a problem," Winesett said. "We can't rule out, depending on the track of the storm, a low end threat of a tornado. The mountains also with the terrain could see landslides."

Here's the NWS forecast for the next five days:

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly after 4pm. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 72. South southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then showers between 9pm and 3am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Low around 63. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.