calculus1

Thank you so much for your kind words and the tip about the iPhone, @WxWatcher007. And, many thanks to all the others who have expressed concern and then thankfulness upon hearing of their safety. My daughter is currently stranded at Western Carolina University. We know she is safe, but we lost contact with her yesterday afternoon. Then, we got an unexpected land-line call from WCU late this afternoon. It was her! The college had set up ten land-line phones for students to call their families. She waited in line for an hour to get her 5 minutes on the phone with us. It was good to hear her voice and to tell her that her uncle, aunt, and cousins were all safe. (We didn’t know that when we last had contact with her yesterday.) Later this evening, it appears they got WiFi internet access restored, because she can now text via WiFi with us. Unfortunately, despite her wishes, she’s going to be stuck in Cullowhee for several days, I believe. There’s just no way to get out at this point with the road conditions the way they are right now. There are no options, no matter which direction of the compass rose that you might try to go. This hurts my heart, and very much frustrates her, but I know she’s being taken well care of there. The university staff are amazing and are doing their absolute best in a difficult situation. Many thanks to all the line, road, and cell tower workers for all they are doing to restore access. Many thanks to all the first responders who have and are risking their lives to save others. This event is truly unprecedented in our region.

Montreat is pretty much gone, or at least all access to it. I went to college there. My family goes to church there. If you are familiar with the area, here’s a TikTok I found of Lake Susan being overrun. The water is going down the only road into the cove. So sad. .

My family is safe. We praise God for that tonight. They made it to our house in Hickory from Old Fort a couple of hours ago. Arrived covered in mud with just a few things in their cars. The town’s police chief actually used a front-end loader to move three feet of mud off the road, enough for them to drive out, once the water had receded. Their house is still there, just 30 feet off their foundation and broken in half. Water reached almost to the ceiling. Strange how certain things inside on walls and on high shelves actually remained in place, with no damage. Of course, anything lower is ruined. We can replace things. I’m thankful that we still have their lives with us. I know others will not be so fortunate when the final chapters of Helene’s story are known.

I-40 at the state line: .

Still now word from our family in Old Fort since EMS told us they were okay. Can’t get to them. Can’t call them. Feels so helpless. .

They were on Orchard St. Near Mills Creek, which overflowed. Waters are receding, but it will be a while before they can get out. .

Can you link the map?

I-40 is closed in many locations from Hickory to the TN state line. It’s impassible right now.

My brother and sister in law lost their home in Old Fort. Water up to the roof. They lost one car, too. They are on hill away from water, but it seems to be receding now.

My in-laws in Black Mountain, as of an hour ago, had received over 10.5 inches of rainfall since midnight. They have since had to evacuate to Owen HS. The Asheville reservoir dam on the North Fork River is apparently very stressed. If it were to break, they would all be inundated…

Here you go. .

French Broad River in Fletcher now above record levels

We should have a lot more posts on here. I think a lot of our members are no longer able to post…

This hurricane is moving so quickly. The rain shield may be out of here in just another couple of hours, based off an eyeball analysis of radar loops.

Power outages map .

Helene is WAY east of NHC forecast track. The global models were right. Is she going to turn NW? .

Oh, and as we are approaching 11 PM, I have recorded 5.12 inches since midnight IMBY. With 1 inch yesterday, that puts me above 6 inches storm total.

My family members are reporting that Buncombe County emergency text messaging is telling people to evacuate if they live in and around the French Broad, the Swannanoa, or any of their tributaries. I think they are particularly worried about the Fletcher and Biltmore Village areas, but this will likely be much more expansive by tomorrow morning.

Others have referenced this. Here’s the graphical forecast. .

Just got home. Closed the college early. 3.02 inches since midnight. 4.02 inches storm total counting yesterday’s rainfall.

More Cocorahs totals coming in… .

Wow. Just. Wow. .

Yep. Found an Old Fort number, as the obs keep rolling in. 6.21 inches. Yikes. What’s @Rainforrest up to now? .

Corcoran observations coming in at 7 AM… .

Got another inch since midnight. Light rain now. Anybody got a rain gauge near Old Fort? Really curious on their totals. It trained on them all night. .