Asheville area nearing 1-in-1000-year rain event as flood concerns mount

 Torrential rainfall being enhanced by tropical moisture from Helene has deluged the Asheville, North Carolina area since Wednesday night. More than 7.5 inches of rain has fallen since last evening.

If another 2 inches or so falls by Thursday evening, it’ll be a 1-in-1000-year rain event for the area, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center. Helene is expected to dump more than a foot of rain in the western North Carolina mountains through this weekend, with much of that coming through Friday afternoon.

The overwhelming amount of rain has sent water levels on area waterways skyrocketing. The Swannanoa River near Asheville’s Biltmore Village is expected to reach major flood stage Thursday night and crest at a record level sometime Friday morning.

Multiple other rivers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are forecast to hit major flood stage in the coming days.