Expires:202409291800;Remove:202409291800;413410
WGUS52 KGSP 290749
FFWGSP

NCC003-035-097-291800-
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BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
349 AM EDT Sun Sep 29 2024

...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR CATAWBA RIVER FROM BELOW OXFORD DAM TO 
BELOW LOOKOUT SHOALS LAKE...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has extended 
the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  South Central Alexander County in the piedmont of North Carolina...
  North Central Catawba County in the piedmont of North Carolina...
  West Central Iredell County in the piedmont of North Carolina...

* Until 200 PM EDT Sunday.

* At 349 AM EDT, Devastating rainfall of 6-25 inches has occurred 
  since Wednesday evening from Lake Hickory to the Catawba River 
  headwaters, with the highest totals exceeding 2 feet along the 
  Blue Ridge Escarpment across the upper Catawba River watershed.  
  This is resulting in catastrophic and historic inflows into 
  Catawba River reservoirs and this water is being moved through the 
  system to Lookout Shoals Lake and points downstream.  Major 
  flooding is developing at Lookout Shoals Lake.

* The latest pool elevations for the upper Catawba River lakes are 
  as follows (Full Pool is 100.0 feet):

    Lake James: 103.4 feet and falling.
    Lake Rhodhiss: 105.3 feet and falling steadily.
    Lake Hickory: 99.9 feet and falling slowly.
    Lookout Shoals Lake: 105.7 feet and falling.

* The current record pool elevation at Lookout Shoals Lake is 114.40 
  feet which occurred in August 1940.  Lookout Shoals Lake reached 
  108.30 feet on November 12, 2020, which is the highest crest in 
  the modern era.  Major Flood Stage is 106.0 feet.  These lake 
  levels will cause unprecedented, catastrophic flooding of Lookout 
  Shoals Lake and possibly adjacent reaches of the Catawba River.

  This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Catawba River from below 
  Oxford Dam to below Lookout Shoals Lake. This is a PARTICULARLY 
  DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!

  HAZARD...Life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding from dam
           floodgate releases caused by excessive rainfall.

  SOURCE...Duke Energy and Catawba County Emergency Management

  IMPACT...This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK
           HIGHER GROUND NOW!   Life-threatening, catastrophic,
           and potential historic flash flooding of areas along
           the Catawba River from Oxford Dam to Lookout Shoals
           Lake.  At 108.0 feet...Major Flooding continues.
           Devastating, widespread structural flooding within the
           Carpenters Cove community and along portions of
           Longfield St near Shadeview Ln is ongoing.
           Significant first-floor inundation is ongoing,
           exceeding 4 feet in several locations.  Water rescues
           may be ongoing.

* Flash flooding may affect areas of the Catawba River from Oxford 
  Dam to near I-40, including Lookout Shoals Lake.

* For more information on lake levels or dam releases, people are 
  encouraged to visit http://lakes.duke-energy.com or call 
  1-800-829-5253.

* Residents along Lookout Shoals Lake should contact Catawba County 
  Emergency Management immediately to update their contact 
  information using the following direct link to their Community 
  Alert System web page at: https://www.catawbacountync.gov/alert

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and 
life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are 
fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

&&

LAT...LON 3585 8114 3580 8110 3578 8107 3577 8106
      3575 8105 3575 8104 3573 8105 3573 8106
      3572 8107 3572 8109 3573 8109 3576 8112
      3581 8116 3581 8119 3584 8120

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC

$$

RWH