Live Blog of Weather Event on December 28, 2018

This is a copy of information shared during the flooding event of December 28, 2018.




OPEN THREAD
FLOODING EVENT
7:45 am on Friday, 12-28-2018

This is an open thread for members of the community to receive and share information in one spot about hazardous conditions in the community.

Feel free to ask questions and answer questions if you know the answer. If you take photos or video during this event, please do so in a safe manner. Feel free to post those here as well.

For those with scanners, you can hear the Macon County Fire Departments on 453.350 Mhz (Dispatch), 453.025 Mhz (called TAC) and the Sheriff Office on 453.3125 Mhz.

The NC Highway Patrol can be heard online at oadcastify.com/listen/feed/28692/web NCSHP Cars that are in Jackson County are typically run under the callsign G-630 thru G-636

Listening to public safety traffic can give you an idea of what locations to avoid if you must get out and about today.

Please drive safe, turn on your headlights so other motorists can see you and don't follow other motorists so close you can't react if they start hydroplaning or get in an accident.

Please be safe, be kind, and help each other out if someone asks for information that you know.

Thanks to Old Castle, our sponsor, without whom this coverage would not be possible.

WEATHER SPONSOR

Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for the month. They have all your masonry products (block, mortars, tools), plus feature Belgrade Pavers and Sakrete Products. Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC.

Visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

Their phone number is 828.524.8545, all are welcome, let them help you with your next project.

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LIVE BLOG will be posted in reverse chronological order below this point.
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**2:38pm** Command has requested an update on the arrival of NCDOT Crew with sand for the road. They're about to remove the second vehicle from the roadway.

**1:47pm** WLOS has posted about the accident at https://wlos.com/news/local/crews-on-scene-of-a-fatal-collision-in-macon-county



**1:38pm** The trooper has requested two wreckers respond to this accident on Sanderstown Road.

**1:30pm**

Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1245 PM EST FRI DEC 28 2018

NCC113-290545-
/O.EXT.KGSP.FA.W.0073.000000T0000Z-181229T0545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Macon NC-
1245 PM EST FRI DEC 28 2018

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has extended the

* Flood Warning for...
Macon County in western North Carolina...

* Until 1245 AM EST Saturday.

* At 1239 PM EST, automated gages indicated the Little Tennessee River continuing to rise at Otto and Franklin, nearing flood stage. Though the heaviest rain has ended, with soils having become saturated across the Little Tennessee watershed, excessive runoff will continue. Thus, the river and its smaller tributaries including Cartoogechaye Creek will continue to rise. Flooding eventually is expected to develop.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Franklin, Highlands, Nantahala Lake, Ellijay, Burningtown, Kyle, Otto, Rainbow Springs, Wayah Bald and Cowee.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. All interested parties should take necessary precautions immediately.

Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Do not attempt to cross water-covered roadways, bridges, or low-level crossings. Only a few inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away your vehicle. It is not worth the risk. Please TURN AROUND, DON`T DROWN.
**1:04pm** Map added to aid motorists in avoiding the traffic congestion. Please find an alternate way to your destination.

**12:34pm** This is a very serious accident. The road is blocked and will be closed for some time. Detour around this location. The Sheriff Office will be blocking the road.

**12:31pm** Macon County EMS and Franklin Fire Department are responding to a two car accident with injury near Sanderstown Road near Thompson Road. One car may be about to catch on fire.


**11:08am** NC-106 (Dillard Rd.), Both Directions
Near SR-1620 (Turtle Pond Rd)
Road Closed with Detour due to flooding.


**10:55am* Otto Firefighters have successfully removed two residents from a home on KT or KD Lane. All firefighters are out of the water.

**10:20am** The heavier rains will be clearing out in the next hour or two. Rivers will still rise for a few hours after that, so please continue to exercise cation on the roadways and monitor waterways near your homes.


**9:28am** Burningtown Firefighters report Needmore Road has flooded.

**9:07am** Here is a look at the water gauge at Riverside Road as of 9:07am



**9:05am** Otto Firefighters have been dispatched to prepare for evacuations. Keep them and those they'll be evacuating in your thoughts and prayers.

**8:57am** The Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland has issued a Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion concerning the potential for havy rain over our region today. Map and text follows:

Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 1075
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
854 AM EST Fri Dec 28 2018

Areas affected...Northern GA...Western NC...Southwest VA...Eastern KY

Concerning...Heavy rainfall...Flash flooding possible

Valid 281354Z - 281854Z

Summary...Widespread moderate to locally heavy rainfall over saturated soils could lead to flooding across the area through this afternoon, especially over sensitive locations in low lying areas.

Discussion...Broad southwest flow aloft has continued to surge a plume of highly anomalous moisture into the southern and central Appalachians, evident by the blended GPS product showing PWATs 1.2-1.3" as far north as southwest VA. This should continue to advect northward into the afternoon hours. A mesoanalysis showed MUCAPE of 500 J/kg extending as far north toward the NC/VA border. 850 mb flow remains strong (40-50 kts) with some upslope component that should favor rainfall across the terrains areas. With these ingredients in place, widespread moderate to locally heavy rainfall is likely to continue into the afternoon.

Soils are extremely saturated given 24-hr rainfall totals as high as 2-4" across portions of the southern/central Appalachians. 14-day departures from normal are running 200-400 percent of normal.

Radar imagery shows pockets of hourly rates exceeding 0.5", which is likely to initiate problems for sensitive and low-lying areas. Hi-res models show the potential for additional amounts of 1-2" with some local amounts as high as 3" possible in some of the favored upslope areas.

As a result, flooding is possible across much of the southern and central Appalachians into the afternoon hours.



**8:33am** From a reader: "please inform followers that the Sylva side of Cowee Mtn. on the curve at the hotel to please be careful! A lot of moving water on the road and is dangerous! Please drive slowly to avoid hydroplaning"


**8:30am** Here is a look at the Cartoiogechaye Creek water gauge at the Belden Circle Bridge behind the Super Ingles.



Latitude 35°09'32", Longitude 83°23'39" NAD83
Macon County, North Carolina, Hydrologic Unit 06010202
Drainage area: 57.1 square miles
Datum of gage: 2,017.18 feet above NGVD29.


**8:24am** Cullasaja Firefighters have blocked off River Road near their fire station due to flooding.

**8:12am** A reader has reported flooding in the fields along the Georgia Road (US-441).



**8:05am** Since I posted the water gauge at Iotla Bridge, the gauge at Riverside Road in Otto has now reached action stage. If you live nearby, you should check to see if your property or home is in danger of flooding. If so, please move to higher ground.



Here are some historic crests at that location:


(1) 12.42 ft on 01/17/2013
(2) 11.78 ft on 03/06/2011
(3) 11.72 ft on 10/15/2014
(4) 11.68 ft on 01/30/2013
(5) 11.18 ft on 12/01/2010
(6) 9.60 ft on 05/05/2013
(7) 7.08 ft on 10/27/2010
(8) 6.14 ft on 09/18/2012









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Published at 3:55 am on December 28, 2018