Flash Flood — Buncombe, North Carolina

Event narrative (NOAA)

Rainfall rates began to intensify as tropical rainbands near the center of Helene swept across the area during the morning hours after 10-17 inches of rain fell across much of the county, with amounts over 20 inches reported in the eastern part of the county. Devastating flash flooding developed along numerous streams, especially across the eastern half of the county. This included the French Broad River, which was already in moderate flood stage at Asheville, but began to rise rapidly during this time, culminating in historic and devastating flooding in the River Arts District, where numerous structures were inundated and damaged, and multiple structures were swept away. The Asheville gauge crested at just under 25 feet during early afternoon, exceeding the record stage by more than a foo

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