ROCKINGHAM — While it appears Richmond County will be spared from most of the effects of Hurricane Helene, there is still potential for heavy rains.
The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a 24-hour flood watch from 6 p.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday.
That watch includes the following counties: Person, Forsyth, Guilford, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Davidson, Randolph, Chatham, Wake, Johnston, Stanly, Montgomery, Moore, Lee, Harnett, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Hoke, Cumberland and Sampson.
Most of the region is expected to receive around 1.5 inches of rain from this storm. According to graphics from the National Hurricane Center, there is a 15% chance of flash flooding in the region.
Most of Richmond County falls under the marginal risk of excessive rainfall; with the Mangum area (northwestern tip) in the slight risk region, along with Stanly and Montgomery counties and the western halves of Anson and Moore counties.
Areas to the west of Interstate-85 have reportedly already seen up to and exceeding four inches and could receive up to a foot before the storm is over.
The region will also be under a wind advisory from midnight to 6 p.m. Friday. Forecasters are calling for southeast winds of 20-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
According to the NWS: “Winds will increase overnight, reaching their peak by mid/late morning. Winds will gradually weaken Friday evening.”
As of 4 p.m. Richmond Schools had not announced any closures or delays for Friday.
Hurricane Helene is currently a Category 3 storm.
As of the 3 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, the storm was about 195 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida, moving north-northeast at 25 mph with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.
The storm is expected to make landfall along Florida’s Big Bend and could be a Category 4 storm.
WLOS-TV in Asheville is reporting multiple road closures in western North Carolina, including parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway; and those living along the French Broad or Swannanoa Rivers are being urged to voluntarily evacuate.
The outer bands of Helene stretch from south of Cuba to southern Ohio.
This is the third tropical system to affect the state within the past two months.
Tropical Storm Debby dumped more than 5 inches of rain across the county in early August; and a system that was never named passed through less than two weeks ago, flooding parts of Brunswick and New Hanover counties on the coast.
