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WataugaOnline Updates on Tropical Storm/ Hurricane Helene

Kenneth ReeceSeptember 26, 2024
9 minutes read

Last Updated on September 27, 2024 10:03 am

WataugaOnline.com updates on the possible impacts of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene on western North Carolina. Information will be updated as it becomes available and necessary.

A list of flood-prone areas in Watauga County is available at this link.

Flood Watch issued through Thursday evening including Watauga, Ashe & Wilkes. More details at this link.

Flood Watch issued through Friday afternoon including Avery County. More details at this link.

*Note – this has now been changed to a Tropical Storm Warning. More details at this link.* Tropical Storm Watch for Avery County – September 25, 2024. More details at this link.

Friday, September 27 Updates

Statement from Sheriff Len Hagaman:

“Important Announcement to All Drivers:

Please do not move or drive beyond barricades. The county and municipalities are actively engaged in swift water rescues, along with law enforcement and other first responders. The waters are moving extremely fast and pose a serious danger. Barricades are in place for your safety. Your cooperation is critical to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and support. Stay safe!

Len Hagaman, Sheriff

Watauga County, NC”

“Blue Ridge Energy line technicians are battling the worst conditions of the storm so far Friday morning as saturated grounds, high winds and falling trees are causing outage numbers to climb quickly past 13,000 currently without power as of 7:30 am Friday.” More information at this link.

7:07am – Flash Flood Warning including Watauga, Ashe & Wilkes – Friday September 27, 2024

Thursday, September 26 Updates

Avery County declares State of Emergency for Hurricane Helene, curfew in effect. More information at this link.

N.C. Urged to Prepare for Significant Travel, Other Impacts from Hurricane Helene. More information at this link.

Town of Boone under State of Emergency for Hurricane Helene. More information at this link.

Town of Blowing Rock declares State of Emergency for Hurricane Helene. More information at this link.

EF1 Tornado confirmed by National Weather Service in Blowing Rock. More details at this link.

2:43 pm – Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute's Caldwell and Watauga Campuses will be closed beginning at 5pm this evening (9/26) and will remain closed on Friday, 9/27 for students and employees.

High Wind Warning issued for Watauga & Ashe. More information at this link.

2:11 pm from Watauga County: Declaration of a State of Emergency

Watauga County Administration and Emergency Services have and will continue to monitor Hurricane Helene. Based on the latest information received and Helene’s path and intensity; the decision has been made to close all County facilities and suspend operations beginning at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 26, 2024 and remain closed through Friday, September 27, 2024. This includes the Community Recreation Center, Transfer Station and all Sanitation Convenience Centers. Essential personnel will report as determined by the department. All County business and facilities will resume operations as regularly scheduled on Saturday, September 28, 2024 depending on storm impact. Any change in the decision to resume operations on Saturday will be communicated no later than 5:00 P.M. on Friday, September 27, 2024.

1:30 pm from Grandfather Mountain:

As Helene approaches the Florida coast and eventually our area, Grandfather Mountain in Linville, N.C., has already received a lot of rainfall.

At 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, the official weather reporting station at Grandfather’s Top Shop, located near the Mile High Swinging Bridge, had measured 5.38 inches of rain over the last 24 hours and 5.83 inches over the last 48 hours.

About halfway down the mountain, at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, 7.24 inches of rain were collected over the last 24 hours and 7.73 inches over the last 48 hours. Precipitation is also measured at this official reporting station as winds can affect the total measurements at the mountain’s Top Shop location.

We are watching weather records, as we believe there’s a chance that this storm may bring similar (or potentially greater?) rain totals to this area compared to what the region experienced in 2004. Then, the remnants of Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne all impacted Western North Carolina during the month of September. Hurricane Frances, alone, created our current one- and two-day records for the mountain.

Existing Grandfather Mountain records are:

  • Most Rain in One Day: 11.3 inches on Sept. 8, 2004
  • Most Rain in Two Days: 12.15 inches on Sept. 7-8, 2004
  • Most Rain in One Month: 32.3 inches in September 2004

10:55 am – Additional Blue Ridge Parkway closures in North Carolina due to storm impacts. More details at this link.

Governor Roy Cooper Press Conference – 11am

10:29 am – all work on the N.C. 105 bridge project has been postponed until next week.

Graphics: National Weather Service Blacksburg

NEW – Flood Warning including Watauga, Ashe & Wilkes. More information at this link.

Today, September 26th, and tomorrow, September 27th, Town of Boone offices will be closed to the public. Non-essential personnel will be working remotely.

From Wednesday night around 8pm

Watauga River gauge peaked at 11.96 feet at 2:15 am this morning.

Flood Warning for Watauga & Ashe. More information at this link.

Watauga County Schools will be closed for students on Thursday, September 26th.  It will be an Optional Teacher Workday and there will be no remote instruction for students.  To ensure safe travel to work, staff may report on a two hour delay.  

The Holiday/ Snowday Program will not operate.

For Friday, September 27th, schools in Watauga County will be closed for students and staff.  This day will be made up later in the school year. 

Ashe County Schools will be closed today, September 26, 2024. It will be an optional teacher workday.

Avery County School System CLOSED Thursday September 26th and Friday September 27th. Both days will be OPTIONAL TEACHER WORKDAY.

UPDATE Lees-McRae College will be closed on Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27. All in-person class meetings are canceled.

App State Boone and Hickory campus classes after 12:15 p.m. Sept. 26 through 5 p.m. Sept. 27 will meet online. Adverse Weather Condition 2 is in effect for non-faculty employees from 12:15 p.m. Sept. 26 through 5 p.m. Sept. 27.

These App State events are canceled:

The following campuswide events have been canceled:

· App State 125th Anniversary and Founders Day Celebration, scheduled from 11a.m.-2p.m.

· 2024 Research & Creative Activity at Appalachian event, scheduled for Sept. 26, from 2-6p.m.

· Fall Family Weekend Mountaineer Families Welcome Reception, scheduled for Sept. 27 from 4-7p.m.

· Fall Family Weekend AppalFest and Appalachian Folklore events, scheduled for Sept. 27 from 4-6p.m.

· Fall Family Weekend Handmade Market, scheduled for Sept. 27 from 6-8p.m.

· Fall Family Weekend Family Trivia event, scheduled for Sept. 27 at 6p.m.

· Fall Family Weekend Off-Campus Housing Preview, scheduled for Sept. 27 at 7p.m.

· Fall Family Weekend Family Bingo, scheduled for Sept. 27 at 7:30p.m.

· Fall Family Weekend Tailgate with The Campus Store, scheduled for Sept. 28

· We are a Family of Mountaineers Legacy Luncheon, scheduled for Sept. 29 from 9:30-11:30a.m.

5:30 am – Many flooded roads and bridges across the High Country this morning. Travel is not advised.

Flood Watches and Warnings remain for all of the High Country as of 5:30am.

Tornado warned storm from late Wednesday night

Wednesday, September 25 Updates

National Forests in North Carolina announces recreation site and road closures ahead of Hurricane Helene. More information at this link.

Watauga County Schools – Due to the forecasted path of Hurricane Helene and to provide families the opportunity to prepare for incoming inclement weather, Watauga County Schools will dismiss early tomorrow, Thursday September 26th. K-8 schools will dismiss at noon and WHS/ WIA will dismiss at 1P.

The Holiday/ Snowday Program and the Afterschool Program will not operate tomorrow.

The weather team will continue to monitor the track of the storm. If any changes are made to this decision, it will be communicated to you by 6:00 a.m.

Avery County School System will be CLOSED tomorrow, Thursday September 26th and Friday September 27th due to the severe rain and wind event predicted to hit our area. Tomorrow and Friday will be OPTIONAL TEACHER WORKDAY.

Hurricane Helene Local Statement Advisory Number 9. More information at this link.

Hurricane Helene Local Statement Advisory Number 10. More information at this link.

Governor Roy Cooper Declares State of Emergency. More details at this link.

Blue Ridge Parkway initiates preemptive, temporary closures along southern portion of route. More details at this link.

Blue Ridge Energy Advises Members: Be Prepared for Hurricane Helene. More information at this link.

1:14pm – A note from Watauga County Schools – “As you are most likely aware Hurricane Helene has the potential to bring inclement weather to our district this week. We wanted to let you know that we are aware and are working closely with outside agencies, as well as our team, to determine if an adjustment to the operation of school is necessary later this week. Once a decision is made, we will be sure to pass along the information so that you can make plans, if needed, for the remainder of the week.”

VLog Update from Brad Panovich

Graphics: National Weather Service Blacksburg

Tuesday, September 24 Updates

Monday, September 23 Updates

Kenneth ReeceSeptember 26, 2024
9 minutes read
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