Drier Weather on the Horizon for the Southeastern U.S.

There is relief on the horizon for the southeastern U.S. After being at the mercy of the remnants of Hurricane Helene, this part of the country is going to enjoy a drying out pattern in the coming days. Here is a look at this forecast.

Dry Weather Setting Up Over the Southeast

Cleanup and recovery efforts in the Southeast will get a helping hand from Mother Nature this week thanks to a drier weather pattern. Hurricane Helene moved into the southeastern corner of the country after making its initial landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast, delivering rainfall measured in feet to the hardest-hit areas. The heavy rain falling over the steep terrain of the southern Appalachians generated a major flooding disaster to end the week.

Mostly dry conditions are in store for this region as the calendar flips from September to October. Monday may see a continuation of Sunday's scattered rain showers but conditions will begin to dry up heading into Tuesday and lasting for the balance of the week.

The dry weather is welcome news for residents cleaning up in the wake of Helene's wrath. However, those people still without power after the storm will want to note that temperatures are expected to hover as much as five degrees over the historical average for the beginning of October. This will translate to readings in the upper 70s to the mid 80s for the interior Southeast and as high as the low 90s for the Florida Panhandle.

Unfortunately for those without air conditioning, high humidity levels will send the real feel readings even higher. It will feel particularly muggy for the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and the eastern edge of Tennessee. Real feel temperatures are forecast to come in at about 4 to 8 degrees over the actual thermometer reading during the peak afternoon heating hours through the rest of the week.

River Flooding Still a Concern

While the heavy rain associated with Helene has subsided, river flooding will continue to be a concern for the Southeast. River flooding is known as a slow-moving disaster as it takes time for the overflowing waterways to spill downstream. The Carolinas and Georgia will be the most at risk of experiencing flooding across several waterways.

A handful of dams in the region have been stressed as a result of the record-high water levels notched with the immense moisture. Some of these dams are at risk of failure. In addition, roads will continue to remain closed in the hardest-hit areas due to the standing water.

Several records fell as the rain unleashed across the Southeast. The river gauge located at the French Broad River in Fletcher, North Carolina reached a height of 30.3 feet late Friday. This measurement easily surpassed the previous record of 20.1 feet, dating back to September 2004 when Hurricane Frances roared through the area. A river gauge upstream in the town of Asheville crested at 24.7 feet, good enough for the highest water level ever seen at this specific gauge since records began in 1895.

Forecasters are warning that it will be some time before these rivers recede. Even in the presence of dry weather, it is not a quick process for the rain to move all the way downstream and end the threat of flooding. Water levels are expected to continue to rise in the days ahead.

Moderate to major flooding is predicted for many rivers in the Midlands and Piedmont regions as well as down into the Lowcountry. This includes the chance of major flooding in South Carolina's Wateree and Congaree rivers as well as in the Ohoopee River in Georgia. Rivers located near the coast will not see as much as a water rise, however, some gradual rise is expected to happen.

Travel Delays to Linger in the Southeast

Motorists should expect travel delays to linger across the Southeast. Many roads and bridges have either been washed away or closed pending the inspection process. Major highs such as interstates 26 and 40 have been impacted by Helene. In addition to the flooding issues, some roadways are dealing with downed trees and scattered debris hindering travel.

Just as Helene is fading away, additional tropical weather threats are showing signs of life elsewhere in the Atlantic basin. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) are warning that two new potential features could form during the first few weeks of October. While the tracking of these storms is not certain, there is a chance that Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Southeast may once again be in the crosshairs for these developments. Stay tuned as more details become certain.

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