"Urgent Warning: Lake Lure Dam at Risk of Failure - What You Need to Know"

Topline

The remnants of Hurricane Helene have moved far inland since making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, and was in Tennessee headed towards Kentucky on Friday, bringing “historic and catastrophic flooding” to the southern Appalachians.

Trees fallen after Hurricane Helene handed by means of Charlotte, N.C. as a tropical storm Sept. 27, … [+] 2024.

Anadolu by way of Getty Images

Key Facts

The middle of Helene, which has been downgraded to a tropical despair, was positioned about 125 miles southeast of Lewisville, Kentucky, as of 2 p.m. EDT on Friday, the National Hurricane Center stated, with most sustained winds of 35 mph.

Heavy rain is falling over parts of the central and southern Appalachians and the area can anticipate complete rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with remoted totals round 20 inches.

Flash flood emergencies are in impact for Atlanta, a lot of upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina, together with the Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina, areas.

Tornadoes are potential Friday by means of components of jap Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Virginia.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Asheville and McDowell counties in North Carolina as rivers and reservoirs are anticipated to swell from heavy rainfall, and a number of colleges in Kentucky and Indiana are closed Friday as winds and heavy rain pelt the area.

Helene is anticipated to stall over the Tennessee Valley tonight and thru the weekend.

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Key Background

Hurricane Helene made landfall at round 11:10 p.m. EDT on Thursday close to the town of Perry in Florida’s Big Bend space. The storm moved by means of Florida and Georgia earlier than heading north. At least 30 folks have died throughout 4 states, in accordance to The New York Times, together with two firefighters in South Carolina.

Has Hurricane Helene Caused Power Outages?

More than 4 million individuals are with out energy throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Almost 2 million folks throughout North and South Carolina are with out electrical energy, in addition to 1 million in Georgia and one other 1 million in Florida, in accordance to PowerOutage.US numbers as of 2 p.m. EDT. More than 100,000 folks have been experiencing energy outages in every Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as to 200,000 folks in Virginia, 65,000 in West Virginia and 35,000 in Ohio.

Is North Carolina's Lake Lure Dam Going To Fail?

Yes. Officials have stated failure of the dam, about 35 miles southeast of Ashville, is “imminent” and have urged any residents to evacuate and search greater floor. The Rutherford County Emergency Management company has reported “catastrophic” water circulation within the space. Lake Lure is a small city constructed across the lake and is best known as the house to Lake Lure Inn, the place the forged and crew of the 1987 “Dirty Dancing” film staying throughout filming.

Is Helene Impacting Airlines?

The Tampa International Airport closed to the general public at 2 a.m. EDT Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Helene however resumed operations Friday morning. The storm didn’t trigger any important injury to the airport. Hundreds of flights have been both canceled or delayed due to the storm, impacting airports like Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport and Asheville Regional Airport, in accordance to FlightAware.

Tangent

Helene is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes weeks after Francine made landfall as a Category 2 in Louisiana on Sept. 11. Forecasters this yr predicted the busiest storm season (from June 1 to Nov. 30) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever forecasted—up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes—however the season hasn't been as lively as predicted to date.