Wind and flooding from Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina on September 27, 2024, primarily in its western Appalachian region, causing at least 108 reported deaths and major destruction of infrastructure and residential areas across several settlements. After making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on September 27, the hurricane traveled overland across Georgia as a Category 2 hurricane and into the Appalachian mountain range as a tropical storm, depositing record-breaking amounts of rainfall across several towns in western North Carolina, including Asheville, Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Montreat, Spruce Pine, Fairview, Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, and several others.
As a result of the historic rainfall, several rivers in the region overflowed and inundated multiple settlements, destroying houses and infrastructure and cutting off power, transportation, and communications to many towns for prolonged periods. In addition, several mudslides occurred across the region, significantly worsening the damage. Helene was the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina history, surpassing Hurricane Florence from 2018.
Hurricane Helene also had significant public health impacts, increasing risk of a variety of physical and mental illnesses for those exposed to conditions such as flooding. This increased risk was the most elevated among older adults. The community responded through volunteer efforts organized by local government agencies. Helene also forced a Baxtor International plant to close, leading to potential consequences for the supply of certain medical supplies.
Background Western North Carolina, and Appalachia as a whole, has historically been victim to significant flooding and damage caused by weakened hurricanes or their remnants, despite being far inland of coastal regions that typically bear the strongest and most publicized impacts. This is due to intense rainfall that can cause significant swelling of rivers and bodies of water, as well as torrents of water flowing down mountainous areas which cause destruction and damaging mudslides.
A 2025 study led by U.S. Geological Survey scientists suggests that landsliding during Hurricane Helene was concentrated on slopes facing southeast into the storm, the direction from which the heaviest rainfall approached the Blue Ridge escarpment. Multiple deaths and devastating destruction were a result of the steep terrain found on the mountains. This pattern is consistent with the storm's rainfall being enhanced as it moved up and over the mountains rather than landslides occurring randomly across the terrain. A field survey identified 2,217 individual landslides across the affected region by early 2025, up from an initial estimate of 1,155 recorded in the weeks after the storm. Separate research comparing the storm's landslides and 79 damaged bridges against pre-existing landslide-susceptibility maps found the maps had performed reasonably well at predicting where these landslides would occur.
For example, rainfall from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 spread across the southeastern United States along the Appalachian Mountains corridor; totals of over were reported near Ellicott Rock Wilderness.
Meteorology Meteorologist Ben Noll reported that about 1.5 times more moisture was transported to western North Carolina than in any prior recorded event in the region, with an estimated integrated vapor transport quantity of roughly 3,000 kilograms per meter per second that surpassed the prior record of 1,883 kg/m/s. The amount of moisture and rainfall deposited in the region was considered exceptional due to it being far inland of the East Coast and the Gulf Coast.
The North Carolina State Climate Office at North Carolina State University reported that its Mount Mitchell weather station recorded of rainfall. The office referred to the total as "off the charts", comparing it to of rainfall being a once-in-1,000-year flood for the area, drawing on statistics from 20th century climate. Asheville Regional Airport recorded 13.98 in (355 mm) of rainfall during the three day period from September 25 to 27. A North Carolina Forest Service weather station recorded receiving of rain from September 25 to 27, requiring further verification.
Readings from weather stations operated by the NWS Greenville-Spartanburg recorded of rainfall in Busick, North Carolina. Additionally, a minimum pressure of 972.2 millibars was recorded at Mount Mitchell State Park.
Preparations On September 25, western North Carolina was placed under tropical storm warnings, with Governor Roy Cooper declaring a state of emergency for the state. Both Gorges State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park were closed due to the storm, with a shutdown also occurring on the Blue Ridge Parkway.State Parks Closures Due to Hurricane Helene, Including Monarch Festival Cancellation, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, September 26, 2024 Significant closures also occurred on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including on US 441. Amtrak modified or canceled several of its southeastern train routes between September 27 and October 1 because of the storm.
Impact +North Carolina Impacts Associated with Hurricane HeleneCountyFatalitiesFatalities per 10,000InjuriesEvacuationsAshe County10.369UnknownUnknownAvery County62.847UnknownUnknownBuncombe County43National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s death toll for Buncombe County:1.559UnknownUnknownBurke County10.113UnknownUnknownCatawba County10.0612≥25Cleveland County20.197Unknown≥12Gaston County10.042Unknown≥9Haywood County50.794UnknownUnknownHenderson County120.839UnknownUnknownMacon County20.521UnknownUnknownMadison County41.814UnknownUnknownMcDowell County20.223UnknownUnknownMecklenburg County30.0261≥100Mitchell County31.334UnknownUnknownNash County00.000150Polk County10.499UnknownUnknownRowan County10.066UnknownUnknownRutherford County40.610UnknownUnknownWake County10.008UnknownUnknownWatauga County20.365UnknownUnknownWilkes County10.151UnknownUnknownYadkin County10.265UnknownUnknownYancey County115.810UnknownUnknown
As of June 17, 2025, 107 people were killed in North Carolina, while 5 more are left unaccounted for in the state.
On September 27, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) issued a statement on their website that all roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed. A unit from the 1st Battalion of the 169th Aviation Regiment, part of the Connecticut Army National Guard, was deployed to help assist disaster relief efforts.
A mudslide and floodwaters from the Pigeon River swept a section of Interstate 40 at the North Carolina–Tennessee border away, forcing a closure. The Pigeon River rose higher in Canton than during Hurricane Frances in 2004 and Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. In Busick, rainfall totals reached .
Areas in the Black Mountains region in western North Carolina were particularly devastated, with especially heavy damage to the communities of Montreat and Swannanoa. The village of Chimney Rock was also largely destroyed. More than 400 roads were closed in western North Carolina, and over 200 people had to be rescued from floods.
Eight tornadoes were spawned by Helene in the state. This included a brief but intense low-end EF3 tornado that impacted the north side of Rocky Mount, damaging 14 buildings and injuring 15 people, including four critically. Five of the other tornadoes were rated EF1, while the remaining two was rated EF0.
All K-12 schools in the region were closed, and several universities were impacted.Denning, Kate. "Schools and colleges in Western NC bounce back from Helene," Sept 23, 2025. Carolina Public Press. Retrieved Jan 27, 2027. Western Carolina University in Cullowhee was closed through October 4 and Appalachian State's campuses of Boone and Hickory were closed through October 5. App State's football game against Liberty was canceled due to flooding and was not rescheduled. The University of North Carolina at Asheville canceled all classes through October 28, and on October 29 announced that the remainder of the semester would be held completely online. Following the severe utility outages and damage caused by Hurricane Helene in late September 2024, in Swannanoa, Warren Wilson College instructed residential students to evacuate campus as soon as local road conditions allowed. A small cohort of students remained on-site to assist campus staff with early restoration, agricultural preservation, and debris clearance. Classes resumed remotely on October 21, 2024, and transitioned back to fully in-person instruction on October 28, 2024, once water and power infrastructure were sufficiently stabilized. To compensate for the lost instructional time, the college extended the fall semester into December before commencing winter break.
Avery County Avery County experienced its worst flooding event in recorded history, with thousands of dwellings damaged by flooding, destroying many of them. Landslides and floodwaters also carried away bridges and roads and led to extensive road closures, isolating many communities. A number of water rescues also occurred. In Elk Park, a family's home was swept away by rapid floodwaters, which was photographed before it struck the riverbank and tore apart, leaving one person missing. Winds downed many trees and powerlines, leaving nearly 100% of Avery County without electricity.
Buncombe County
In Buncombe County, waterways associated with the French Broad River basin exceeded previous highest-ever heights by several feet, while many weather observation sites broke three-day rainfall total records. Floodwaters covered large swaths of I-40 and US 74, resulted in numerous road closures, and washed away some bridges and roads. This, as well as landslides, left communities isolated. At least hundreds of businesses and homes experienced some degree of water damage. High winds felled many trees and power lines. Nearly all of the county was left without electricity and water. As of April 2, 2025, 43 people were killed in Buncombe County alone, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
Asheville
A curfew was issued for Asheville due to the damage that occurred inside the city. The city broke its record for two-day rainfall, recording of rain.Hurricane Helene Recap: Catastrophic Surge, Inland Flooding From Florida To The Appalachians, The Weather Channel, September 27, 2024 Almost the entirety of Biltmore Village and the River Arts District were flooded, and the city was largely isolated due to loss of power and cell service. Landslides around Asheville forced sections of I-26 and I-40 to close, and triggered a flash flood emergency for the location.Tropical Storm Helene: "Flash flood emergency" explained, Axios, September 27, 2024 Access to Asheville was cut off from September 27–28 via I-26 to South Carolina.Asheville has been isolated after Helene wrecked roads and knocked out power and cell service AP
The National Climatic Data Center was forced to shut down due to power outages and flooding caused by the storm.
Fairview Fairview in Buncombe County suffered severe damage from flooding, with the Garren Creek area deemed "completely devastated". One resident was forced to grab onto a pole to survive rapid flood waters, while two women were carried by floodwaters in their house until it crashed in a forest. Thirteen total deaths occurred due to landslides in Garren Creek, including eleven members of the same family who had lived in a community known as Craigtown. This was the largest cluster of deaths in Buncombe County.
Swannanoa