Officials say a Lake Lure Dam failure is imminent

As Helene weakens, the now-tropical storm's strong winds and heavy rains continue to wreak havoc across the southeastern United States, including North Carolina, where at least one county has ordered evacuations.

Rutherford County Emergency Management ordered residents living along certain roads to evacuate to higher ground as water overflows Lake Lure Dam, according to a Facebook post shared by the government office Friday morning.

Emergency officials warned in a Facebook post at 11 a.m. ET that a Lake Lure dam failure was “imminent.”

This update came after Rutherford County Emergency Management reported that “catastrophic water flows along the Broad River into Lake Lure” overtopped the dam, resulting in severe flooding downstream, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Officials released a list of streets where residents are being asked to evacuate. You can view the list on the Rutherford County Emergency Management Facebook page.

The dam is located about 30 miles southeast of Asheville.

Flood warnings issued

Flood warnings have been issued for several counties and cities in western North Carolina, including Avery, Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes and Boone.