Widespread showers associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida will continue to move north across the mountains of northeast Georgia and the western Carolinas through the night. Rain will fall at the rate of one quarter to one half inch per hour from time to time across portions of the mountains...generally from the Asheville and Hendersonville area to the great Smoky Mountain National Park. This will cause stream levels to continue to rise across the area tonight. The rain will continue to be moderate to heavy for much of the time until Wednesday morning. This will increase the possibility of landslides.
Forecast for Oconee Mountains
Updated: 9:49 PM EST on November 10, 2009
Flash Flood Watch in effect through Wednesday morning...
Tonight
Rain. Rain may be heavy at times. Breezy. Near steady temperatures in the mid 50s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
Veterans Day
Rain likely in the morning. Breezy with highs in the mid 50s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Lows in the mid 40s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
Thursday
Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
... Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Wednesday morning...
The Flash Flood Watch continues for
* portions of northeast Georgia... western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina... including the following areas... in northeast Georgia... Elbert... Franklin... Habersham... Hart... Rabun and Stephens. In western North Carolina... Avery... Buncombe... eastern Polk... Graham... Haywood... Henderson... Macon... Madison... Mitchell... northern Jackson... Polk mountains... southern Jackson... Swain... Transylvania and Yancey. In upstate South Carolina... Abbeville... Anderson... greater Greenville... greater Oconee... greater Pickens... Greenville mountains... Greenwood... Laurens... Oconee mountains... Pickens mountains... Spartanburg and Union SC.
* Through Wednesday morning
* moisture associated with tropical cyclone Ida will continue to overspread the region into Wednesday producing copious amounts of rainfall... on the order of 2 to 5 inches with locally higher amounts.
* Across mountainous or hilly terrain... rainfall amounts of 5 inches or more over a large area lead to a significant increase in landslide threat on an isolated to scattered basis. The expected rainfall may cause flooding of creeks... streams and rivers. Also... locations with poor drainage will flood... especially across urbanized areas.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.