By Marissa Lute, Marissa Thompson, Patrick Phillips and P.J. Williams
Published: Sep. 18, 2024 at 9:28 AM EDT|Updated: Sep. 27, 2024 at 7:15 PM EDT
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - What is left of Helene is causing catastrophic flooding in Midsouth states as South Carolina works to recover from the damage.
Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm around 11:10 p.m. Thursday in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and it quickly began weakening as it moved north-northeastward near Valdosta, Georgia.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, the storm had been downgraded to Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene. Its center was located near latitude 37.5 North, longitude 85.5 West, about 50 miles south-southeast of Louisville, Kentucky.
The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the north-northwest near 17 mph. A slowdown in forward speed is expected, and the system is forecast to stall over the Tennessee Valley through the weekend.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.
Continued weakening is expected during the next couple of days.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 984 mb or 29.06 inches.
Wind gusts are beginning to climb as the center of Category 1 Hurricane Helene moves north across Georgia. Peak gusts of 40 to 60 mph can be expected through sunrise! Power outages are possible. pic.twitter.com/yCuckihlU1
— Joey Sovine Live 5 (@JoeySovine) September 27, 2024
Two dozen South Carolina counties, including most of the Lowcountry, are under a tornado watch until 8 a.m. Friday.
Click here to download the free Live 5 First Alert Weather app.
The National Weather Service will investigate Orangeburg and Colleton Counties to determine whether a tornado touched down Thursday.
Helene made landfall as Category 4, left mark on Lowcountry
A fast-moving Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida’s northwestern coast as a Category 4 storm Thursday night, threatening a “catastrophic” storm surge as well as damaging winds, rains and flash floods hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S., forecasters said.
Because of the storm’s size, it caused significant damage and flooding across South Carolina. One of the biggest effects of the storm was widespread power outages. At the height of the storm, more than 1.4 million outages were being reported.
Electric utility crews are working around the clock to restore power, but at a briefing Friday afternoon, crews said that process could take several days.
Dominion Energy President Keller Kissam said Helene was very different from most storms because most come from the Atlantic and push the energy east, as the Upstate experienced severe damage.
“It was supposed to go through Atlanta but it came closer to Augusta. It threw all of its energy to the east, and that’s why we have the number of outages that we have, mainly from shear force winds taking down trees and causing structural damage,” he said.
They warned people to watch for downed power lines and to go nowhere near them.
“In addition to that, if you’re not experienced with a chainsaw, don’t use it,” he said. “If you go to cut trees that are caught up in telecommunications or power lines, they’re under tension, and when you take that weight off and cutting that tree, it will spring back and it will it has the potential to kill you.”
Despite being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, Helene is expected to produce rainfall totals of between 6 to 12 inches over portions of the central and southern Appalachians, with some isolated totals exceeding 20 inches.
The National Weather Service said this rainfall will result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with record-level river flooding in many instances. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians.
Elsewhere, 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is expected across portions of the Ohio Valley through Sunday night.
SC moved to ‘OPCON 2′ ahead of Helene, warned of dangers
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division elevated its readiness and response Thursday morning to “Operating Condition Level 2″ or OPCON2.
The higher level of readiness allows agencies to coordinate resources more effectively and respond swiftly to requests for help from county emergency managers.
Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for South Carolina Wednesday afternoon.
The SCEMD issued important reminders as the state begins to feel effects of Helene.
Be aware of potential flash flooding:
- If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move to higher ground. Do not wait to be told to move.
- Do not walk through moving water. Three to six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.
- Never drive around or move barricades blocking a street.
Be cautious of downed trees and power lines:
- Never touch or attempt to remove fallen limbs from downed or sagging power lines.
- Always report downed lines to your utility provider. Never call 911 to report downed power lines or power outages.
- Keep children and pets away from fallen electric lines.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
