Flash Flood Watch from TUE 4:48 AM EDT until WED 8:00 AM EDT

Greenville-Spartanburg – SC, US, National Weather Service

Greater Oconee County

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING…

The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for Portions of northeast Georgia, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina, including the following areas…

In northeast Georgia, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun and Stephens.

In western North Carolina, Avery, Buncombe, Eastern McDowell, Greater Rutherford, Haywood, Henderson, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell, Northern Jackson and Yancey.

In upstate South Carolina, Abbeville, Greater Greenville, Greater Oconee, Laurens and Oconee Mountains.

Through Wednesday morning. Tropical moisture has set up over the region in advance of Tropical Depression Fred, and moisture will continue to increase across the region through the day and into tonight.

As the remnants of Fred move northward over the southern Appalachians, showers and thunderstorms will become increasingly widespread and these will have the potential to produce excessive rainfall during this period.

New rainfall amounts will vary widely, ranging from 2 to 3 inches in the lower Piedmont, to 3 to 5 inches across the foothills, to 5 to 8 inches in many mountain locations. Isolated 8 to 10 inch totals will be possible along the favored upslope areas of the eastern slopes of the extreme southern Appalachians. This very heavy rainfall will push many streams, creeks, and rivers out of their banks and likely flood some roadways. Deep ponding of water of in low-lying and poor drainage areas may also flood some roadways. Landslides may develop along steeply sloped terrain, with trees sometimes falling in these zones well after the rainfall ends.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Rainfall of more than five inches in similar storms has been associated with an increased risk of landslides and rockslides. If you live on a mountainside or in a cove at the base of a mountain, especially near a stream, be ready to leave in advance of the storm or as quickly as possible should rising water, moving earth, or rocks threaten. Consider postponing travel along mountain roads during periods of heavy rainfall.