RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Friday is a CBS 17 Storm Alert Day as Hurricane Helene's remnants will move across the southeast, bringing heavy rain and isolated tornadoes to North Carolina.
As of 6:20 p.m. Thursday, Hurricane Helene has strengthened to "an extremely dangerous Category 4" storm as it nears landfall in Florida's Panhandle, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Major impacts will begin Friday morning, especially in western North Carolina but are expected to improve by the evening.
Storms are expected to come in by 7 a.m. and are expected to clear by afternoon.
Here is a breakdown of expected impacts in Central NC:
- Rainfall: 1 to 2 inches with localized higher amounts of up to 3 inches.
- Winds: 20 to 40 miles per hour wind gusts
- Isolated flooding
- Isolated to numerous power outages are expected
- Isolated tornadoes
The worst of the weather will be felt in western North Carolina where it has been raining since Wednesday. Over a foot of rainfall could fall in parts of the mountains, leading to flash flooding through Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center expects Hurricane Helene to weaken over Tennessee into the weekend. Weather will improve on Saturday in central NC. What's left of Helene will rotate over NC late weekend into early next week. It could squeeze out some rain, but most of the heaviest rain will be behind us.
Stay with the CBS 17 Storm Team for the latest updates.