9 a.m. Helene update as the storm moves across South Carolina

AIRPORTS, CHARLOTTE, ATLANTA, GSP. Let's take a look at what's going on right now, because even heading into ASHEVILLE you've got some of those heavier bands in action until 12pm today. YOU CAN SEE WE'RE STARTING TO DRY THINGS UP AGAIN. BUT HOW DO WE GET THERE? LET'S SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE NOW IN THE SOUTHEAST IN TERMS OF THE WIND GUSTS AND RAIN THAT IS REALLY HEAVY AND HEAVY IN THE REGION. THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAUSED THE POWER OUTAGES THROUGHOUT THE AREA WAS THE ACTUAL EYE WALL. THE SAME EYEWALL THAT PRODUCED CATEGORY FOUR WINDS SPEEDING 140 MPH DURING LANDFALL LAST NIGHT. NOW AS THIS MOVES NORTHWARD, WE WILL CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THIS DEVELOPMENT FROM THE AREA CONTINUALLY GETTING BETTER. FIRST WITH THE RAIN, THEN WITH THE WIND. NOW WE ARE LOSING OUR REPORTING WEBSITES BECAUSE OF THE POWER OUTAGE ON THESE REPORTING WEBSITES. BUT CONSIDER THE WIND SPEED AND VALHALLA IS STILL REPORTING THREE MILES PER HOUR. The same goes for Franklin. This is because the eyewall sits directly over these areas and this wind enters at the back. SOMEONE BROUGHT THIS UP SOMETHING AGO. The winds will actually change direction slightly. So if we've had a constant influence towards the south, remember that in meteorology school we study a lot of physics and all those courses. I thought I'd never have to worry again. RIGHT. Well, here's why you study wind speeds and the way they occur. THIS IS CONSTANT PRESSURE ON A TREE. When the wind turns this way, it now turns the other way, and then you make it bend, so to speak. THEY BREAK. Imagine walking quickly and with a gust in the other direction. THEN THESE PROBLEMS COME. THE GUSTS WE HAVE NOW ON OUR REPORTING SITE. Again, the majority of them are depressed because the majority of our region does not have electricity. IN FACT, THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN OR CAROLINAS AT ANY TIME, WITH THE WESTERN CAROLINAS HAVING THE MAJORITY OF THE 58 MILE PER HOUR GUSTS AT THE DOWNTOWN AIRPORT. As we look at these gusts, combined with the Rutherfordton radar now picking up some of this action, the latest report we received from the NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER shows wind speeds holding at 60 mph as this storm system continues to move forward rises towards the north. Right here it's moving north very quickly for a tropical system at 30 miles per hour. I mean, you couldn't drive your car that fast. I mean, that's how fast it goes. Now if we look at the newest route, it will go right across the mountains. NOW IT'S OVER OCONEE COUNTY, PARTS OF FRANKLIN. AS YOU SAW ON THE EYE WALL. It's about crossing the mountains. It will take some time. THESE ARE HIGH MOUNTAINS FOR THIS SYSTEM. Since it is a tropical system, it must climb over them. And then on the other side of the mountains in Tennessee, and then it leaves our area. So there are peak wind gusts. These are now the last reported wind gusts before many of these locations (50, 40, 70) lost power. It's safe to say that some of these wind gusts, which are in the 40s and 30s, were much higher than when the power went OFF. WE JUST DIDN'T REPORT THIS IN OUR STATION HERE. So that's kind of what's going on. TORNADOES ARE NOW HAPPENING ACROSS FLORIDA'S GRAND BEACH, MYRTLE BEACH, UNDER A TORNADO WARNING TOWARD FAYETTEVILLE IN NORTH CAROLINA NEAR THE BASE. YOU WILL SEE SOME WARNINGS. RIGHT NOW, EVERY SINGLE COUNT IN OUR AREA IS UNDER SOME TYPE OF FLOOD WARNING AS WE TAKE A LIVE LOOK AT SUPER DOPPLER FOUR, THE HEAVEST RAINFALL IN THE COUNTRY. SINCE WE ARE USING OUR OWN DOPPLER, THE DOPPLER SITE HAS ELECTRICITY. WE NOW HAVE ELECTRICITY, THANKS TO SOME GENERATORS, PARTIALLY, RIGHT? We are grateful and can provide you with this life-saving information as we head toward the mountains. We are concerned about the flooding we are experiencing, a so-called flood warning with a catastrophic threat. THIS IS A DAY. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ISSUES THIS FLASH FLOOD WARNING. This is because the creeks and streams are so high. AND SIT THERE. Now as we approach this afternoon the rain will continue to ease a little, but the heaviest rain has passed. YOU NEED IT TO SWITCH OFF. We don't need another drop in these areas of the wide river. THESE EAST-FACING SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS. At the moment there is the strongest wind and the biggest rain. Where do we go from here? LET'S MAP IT. There is the eye. Let's fast forward this map to where we are right now. THIS MODEL ALSO CORRECTS AT EVERY HOURLY PEAK DEPENDING ON CURRENT CONDITIONS. So at 9:00 a.m. we got the eye wall right where I just showed you. SO. It is very well positioned right here. There were a few lingering showers across the hinterland. AND FOR THE MOUNTAINS. BUT LOOK WHAT HAPPENS AS WE REACH 930, 10:00 TO TEN, 11:00, MOST OF THE UPSTATE, COMPLETELY DRY, STILL BREEZE, STILL WINDY AND AGAIN, DON'T LET YOUR WATCH OFF ALL DAY, EVEN TODAY EVENING Into the night, as it is still windy, at some point trees and everything that is the stress just can't take it anymore. And they are easing as we look toward western North Carolina. After this afternoon the winds will slowly die down, but the sun will most likely come out this afternoon and evening. How much additional rain can we expect? Now, with this storm system moving so quickly, you still have about half an inch of capacity left in the mountains. And if we take a closer look at the same model, those areas are toward Spruce, Pine, Boone, State of WATAUGA COUNTY, 4 or 5 inches of rain, about a half inch of additional rain for ASHEVILLE and HENDERSONVILLE. AND THAT'S GOOD. The problem is that if we continue here, all the rain that falls flows towards the valleys, and the valleys are where the rivers are. THE BROAD FRENCH RIVER, WHICH IS ONE OF THEM, USUALLY FLOWS THREE FEET. IT IS 21 FEET. WE BROKE THE RECORD TODAY. NOW IT IS