Asheville Faces Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Risks

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Cloudy skies over Asheville with rain and rivers overflowing.

News Summary

Asheville is bracing for a week of wet weather as a frontal system approaches, with heavy rain and potential flooding expected across western North Carolina. Starting Tuesday, February 11, residents may experience light rain turning into heavy showers, accumulating between five to seven inches. Flooding risks are heightened, particularly along local rivers. With previous dry conditions in the area, preparedness is key as another rain event is forecasted for the weekend. Stay informed and ready for possible weather watches and warnings.

Asheville Prepares for a Wet Weather Week!

Hey there, Asheville! Got your umbrellas ready? It’s time to talk about the wet and wild weather heading our way! A frontal system is moving in, bringing heavy rain and the potential for some serious flooding to western North Carolina. Get ready, because it all starts overnight on Tuesday, February 11, and it looks like it’s sticking around for a while!

What to Expect

Initially, we’re looking at some light rain as we settle into Tuesday morning. However, if you live in the higher elevations, you might want to keep an eye out for a tad bit of freezing rain by daybreak. It’s not the way we want to kick off our day, but it won’t be long before heftier rainfall rolls in later on Tuesday.

By the time it’s all said and done, western counties could end up with anywhere between five to seven inches of rain over the next week! Those living in the French Broad River Valley, you might want to brace yourselves too. It’s expected to accumulate around three to five inches of rain during this wet spell!

Flooding Risks

As we dive into this rainy forecast, the risks of flooding are heightened, especially in the western regions. Keep a watchful eye on the rivers, particularly the French Broad, Pigeon, Saluda, Oconaluftee, and Tuckasegee Rivers. They might be quite the spectacle as the water levels rise.

Now, let’s not forget that Asheville and the surrounding areas have been working with some dry conditions lately. We’ve seen less-than-normal rainfall—more than three inches below average this year! That might help to lessen some impacts of flooding, but still, it’s not an excuse to let our guard down.

Still More Wet Weather Expected

And just when you think it’s over, it seems we’re not in the clear yet! A second round of rain is already on the horizon for the weekend, which could potentially up the ante regarding flooding risks even more. So keep making those plans, but maybe choose some indoor activities where possible!

A Reminder for Everyone

This forecast brings us the first significant rainfall we’ve seen since January 1. In fact, Asheville has only gathered a measly 1.34 inches of rainfall during that span—almost four inches below normal. This upcoming weather event is shaping up to be the biggest rainfall we’ve experienced since Hurricane Helene back in September 2024. However, it’s important to highlight that it’s not expected to bring flooding on quite the same scale since this rain will be spread out over several days.

Stay Prepared!

So what can you do to stay safe? Prepare yourself to receive weather watches and warnings. Make sure you have a plan in place and be ready to move to higher ground if those flash flood alerts come knocking on your door. The weather might be unpredictable, but with a little foresight, we can weather the storm together.

Get those rain boots out, folks! Stay informed, stay safe, and let’s hope the rain brings us the much-needed moisture without too much fuss.