"Parts of Appalachia Are Under Landslide Warnings In Hurricane Helene’s Wake"

"The National Hurricane Center has warned of the risk of significant landslides through Friday in parts of Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas."

"The National Hurricane Center predicted a chance of “numerous significant landslides” across southern Appalachia through Friday in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The Blue Ridge Mountains could see an additional 10 to 15 inches of rain as Helene approaches, with some areas seeing up to 30 inches, or almost three feet, of rain.

“Any time there’s heavy rain in a relatively short amount of time mudslides are a possibility,” said Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.

After the storm makes landfall, Dr. Klotzbach said, it will move inland quickly, and because of its large size, the effects would be more far-reaching than that of a typical storm.

“The impacts are reaching pretty far inland,” he said, “which the Hurricane Center is emphasizing in its messaging.”"

Austyn Gaffney reports for the New York Times September 26, 2024.

Source: NYTimes, 09/27/2024