Cherokee and Clay under flash flood watch

Community
flash flood watch

MURPHY, N.C. – Murphy and Hayesville are under a flash flood watch until Thursday, October at 8 a.m.

Neighboring Georgia counties are also under a flash flood watch and portions of east Tennessee.

The National Weather Service Office (NWS) cautioned residents to pay attention to later forecasts in case they need to take action.

In a longer weather report, NWS stated:

“Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected through Thursday morning. Additional rainfall amounts of one to three inches, with locally higher amounts especially over the southern plateau, will be possible. This will result in the potential for flash flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and low spots in hilly terrain.”

The weather appears to improve by the weekend.

Cherokee County E-911 Communications overrun with calls

Community, News

Murphy, Nc. – Road conditions and the continued snowfall is putting a strain on Cherokee County E-911 Communications.

With roadways already wet before the thick snow fell, ice has formed in areas causing driving conditions to be hazardous. Many roadways are impassable due to these conditions, and there are reports of roadways being closed due to stranded vehicles.

Cherokee County E-911 Communications tells the public in a statement, “The center is inundated with calls from motorists traveling on the ice/snow covered roadways.”

Residents and travelers are urged to call the county’s non-emergency line at 828-835-3144 if they are need of assistance but it is not an emergency. E-911 Communications does say that non-emergency calls will be addressed in the order they are received, and to expect to be placed on hold while personnel handles “true emergencies”.

If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency do call 911.

Cherokee County E-911 Communications released the following information for those needing assistance:

If you have a Life Threatening Emergency dial 911.

 If you need road condition information dial 511 from a cell phone, (877) 511-4662 from outside North Carolina or visit www.ncdot.gov.

If you do not have an emergency and need to contact the NC Highway Patrol State Highway Patrol main office number: (919) 733-7952. 

Motorists traveling through the state who need assistance may dial *47 which is *HP on a cellular phone. 

Like emergency personnel in neighboring counties, Cherokee County Emergency Services are asking all residents to remain at home unless absolutely necessary to travel. They are also asking residents to please stay off roadways while crews respond to emergencies and work to clear the roads.

FYN will bring you weather updates throughout the day.

National Weather Service expects heavy rainfall

Community, WEATHER
flood watch heavy rainfall

MURPHY, N.C. – Residents in Cherokee County should expect more heavy rainfall through Thursday, Feb. 13 and possible flooding according to National Weather Service (NWS).

The unpredictable winter weather will continue to be wet in western N.C. for much of the week. Two to three inches of rain are expected between Monday, Feb. 10 and Tuesday, Feb. 11 in Murphy. NWS has issued another flood watch for the area on Feb. 10

In NWS’s latest hazardous weather outlook, the organization stated”

“.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight Heavy rainfall will move into the area today ahead of a slow moving frontal boundary. The main axis of heaviest rain will be along and south of Interstate 40. Rainfall amounts of two to four inches will be possible through tonight with locally higher amounts possible. This rainfall will lead to additional flooding across the area.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Tuesday through Sunday Heavy rainfall will continue into Tuesday with continued flooding likely. Another round of heavy rainfall is expected Wednesday into Thursday as the front lifts northward across the region. Widespread amounts of two to three inches will be possible. Rainfall totals from Monday through Thursday will range from three to six inches. Strong to severe thunderstorms may be possible Wednesday evening through early Thursday morning. The primary hazard will be damaging winds. Mountain wave high winds are expected across the mountains and foothills Wednesday afternoon through early Thursday morning.”

UPDATE: US 19/74 and schools closed after mudslides and flooding

Community, News
flooding

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – UPDATE: Cherokee County Schools and US 19/ 74 in Nantahala Gorge closed Feb. 7. due to extensive flooding and mudslides.

The weather  and rock slide resulted in the closure of US 19/74 through at least Friday, Feb. 7. North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) are actively removing debris from the area near Hewitts Road. The drainage path was altered so crews are working to correct that as well.

Drivers should take the detour through Robbinsville and Stecoah and westboard commuters are advised to take NC 28 to NC 143 and US 129, back to US 19/74.

Original story is below:

Hazardous weather conditions expected to continue into the night and have already resulted in mudslides in Andrews and flooding across the county.

The National Weather Services has predicted for this afternoon: “Rain. Patchy fog before 3pm. High near 62. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.”

For tonight: “Rain likely. Patchy fog before 10pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.”

There’s also 40% chance of snow and wintry mix on Friday morning.

The Oconaluftee Island Park and Cherokee County Rest Area, near U.S. Hwy. 74 are closed due to flooding.

Portions of Tucker White, Hollar, and Beaver Creek Road are also experiencing flooding.

NCDOT and state patrol are monitoring the situation at the Nantahala Gorge, where water is running across in several spots.

Aquone Road experienced a mudslide. Image courtesy of James Reid.

In Andrews, Aquone Road is closed due to an early morning mudslide. Officials advise to take US 19/129.

Cherokee County Schools closed for the day with an optional workday for teachers. They haven’t released a decision about tomorrow as out 2:07 p.m.

Tri-County Community College notified students that it will be closed all day Thursday and Friday.

Clay County’s witnessed similar weather conditions.

Please take your time if heading out in this weather and be prepared to take alternate routes.

Feature image courtesy of Caitlin Hinkle of Beaver Ridge Road.

Cherokee Schools on two-hour delay for Feb. 11

Cherokee County Schools
two-hour delay

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. – With the prediction of heavy rainfall and flash flooding, Cherokee County Schools are on a two-hour delay for Tuesday.

The school system released this statement on Facebook:

“Due to reports of flooding and anticipated rising of creek water in several areas, Cherokee County Schools will be on a two hour delay, tomorrow, Tuesday February 11. This will enable drivers to see any potential areas impacted by rising waters and make choices in their routes to school. In the event that the flood turns from “watch” status to “warning” we will cancel school, however at this time, CCS will operate on a two hour delay.”

Rain expected to produce possible flooding through New Years

News
Towns County weather

HIAWASSEE, Ga. –  The National Weather Service issued an Flash Flood Watch which will take effect this evening, Thursday, Dec. 27, and a current Wind Advisory for north Georgia counties across FYN’s area of coverage.

Between Thursday evening through Saturday morning, light rain will move into the state Thursday, becoming moderate to heavy across most of north and central Georgia Thursday night. The heavy rain will persist into Friday before tapering off Friday night. Total rainfall of 1.5 to 3 inches is expected through Saturday morning with isolated higher amounts likely.Hiawassee weather

A second round of precipitation is expected to develop on Saturday, with an additional 1-2 inches of rain possible through New Year’s Eve.

A Wind Advisory is in effect for portions of north Georgia through 7 a.m. Friday morning, with sustained winds 10 to 20 mph, with gusts to 40 mph possible. The strongest gusts are expected across the higher elevations and ridgetops. With already saturated soils, strong winds could down trees and power lines.

Soil conditions remain highly moist and river levels remain elevated across the area. Even a relatively small amount of rainfall will produce significant runoff and flooding of creeks and rivers. Once the rain ends, high water could persist for several days after.

 

 

Area responders urge residents to prepare for rounds of rain

News

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Meteorologists are forecasting a heavy amount of rainfall to descend on the north Georgia and western North Carolina mountains throughout the week, warning that possible flash flooding may occur in prone locations. According to the National Weather Service, a total of 5 to 7 inches of rain is expected in the region, with the potential of 10 inches of localized precipitation.

Clay County weather

North Carolina forecast by WNC Weather

Area first responders urge residents to remain aware of current conditions as rainfall amounts accumulate.

Towns County Emergency Management Agency encourages citizens to register with the CodeRED call-text alert system, an automated program that notifies residents of impending concern.

“We are aware of the potential of this storm impact over the next several days,” Towns County EMA Director Rickey Mathis explained to FYN this morning. “I have spoken to the Area 1 GEMA field coordinator as well as the chapter chairman of the Red Cross. If needed, we will open a comfort station for those that may need to evacuate. The situation that is most concerning is a heavy rain 1-2 inches in a short period of time. With the ground saturation, it just runs off. Subscribing to the CodeRED alert system is a great way to get local information, and a great way for us to quickly alert the citizens as well as social media and FYN.”

Residents can subscribe for CodeRED alerts at http://www.townscountyga.org/emergency-alert-system.html

Hiwassee Dam Fire Department is ready should conditions warrant an emergency response. “Our swift water response team is prepared. If you live in flood prone areas, stay alert,” the Murphy, NC department advised. “Monitor the streams as well as NOAA radio. Be prepared to evacuate. The forecast is still not set in stone, but we have seen predictions for anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of rain through Friday. The ground is saturated and the streams are already above normal flow.”

Emergency crews in Towns County, GA, Clay County, NC, and surrounding areas are additionally trained in swift water response.

Follow FYN for weather-related updates in our area of coverage.

 

Fetch Your News is a local now news outlet, attracting more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month in Towns, Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, and Murray counties, as well as Clay and Cherokee County in N.C. – FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week, reaching between 15,000 to 60,000 on our Facebook page.

 

Winter Storm Warning for Cherokee and Clay Counties, North Carolina

News

Winter Storm Warning for Cherokee and Clay counties, North Carolina

 

Posted at 3:15 pm from the National Weather Service:

Accumulating snowfall expected on Friday across Southwest North Carolina and the mountains of Eastern Tennessee…

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST

SATURDAY…

Light to moderate snow occurring. Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the evening commute.

Additional snow accumulations of one to three inches are expected.

 

Additional Details

Be prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times.

 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions are occurring. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.

 

Ways to prepare and stay safe:

  • Stay indoors during the storm.
    Prolonged exposure to cold can cause hypothermia.
  • Walk and drive carefully on icy sidewalks and roads.                                                                                           Many injuries and accidents are caused by slippery conditions.
  •  Before driving, let someone know your destination, route and expected time of arrival.
     If your car gets stuck, it’ll be easier to find you. 
  •  If you lose feeling and color in your nose, ears, hands or feet, cover the exposed area, avoid         rubbing your skin and seek medical help immediately.                                                                                             You may have frostbite.                                                                                                                                                         
  • When shoveling snow, take breaks and lift lighter loads.                                                                                 Working too hard can lead to heart attacks.                                                                                                                      
  •  Stay Dry.                                                                                                                                                                       Wet clothes makes you lose body heat, increasing your risk for hypothermia.                                                            

Hurricane Irma prompts school closings in Georgia

News

*  Union County Schools will be CLOSED Monday, September 11th, 2017 due to Gov. Nathan Deal declaring a state of emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia. Please continue to monitor here for further updates.

  •  Fannin County Schools will be closed for students and all personnel on Monday, September 11.A great deal of consideration has been given to this decision. Governor Deal has us under a State of Emergency. Severe weather conditions, such as severe winds (especially at higher elevations), debris, dangerous road conditions, and downed power lines are all possible for our area beginning tomorrow(Monday) morning.Weather predictions are not always accurate, but this storm is massive and cannot be ignored. It is my hope that our community is spared from this, but it is better to err on the side of caution when safety is in question.  Please stay safe!
  • Pickens County Schools closed   Jasper, Georgia — Due to inclement weather conditions,the Pickens County School District will be closed tomorrow, Monday, September 11th – TWELVE MONTH EMPLOYEES REPORT AT NORMAL TIME. Schools will also be closed on Tuesday, September 12.  Twelve month employess will be contacted late Monday as to whether they will be required to come to work on Tuesday. All school activities, including athletic events and after-school programs, will be canceled.  Information will be posted on the Pickens County School District website at www.pickenscountyschools.org, the Infinite Campus parent portal, district and school websites and social media sites, and sent to local media.

     *  Gilmer County Schools closed   Release from Gilmer County School         School Closed – Monday, September 11, 2017Gilmer County Schools will be closed Monday September 11 due to Hurricane Irma. We have made this decision after consultation with local emergency management authorities and careful consideration of safety factors, such as the probability of severe winds especially at higher elevations, debris, dangerous road conditions and downed power lines left in its wake. We understand that weather predictions are not always accurate, but this storm is massive and cannot be ignored. It is our hope that our community is spared from the force of this storm, but we will always choose to err on the side of caution when our students’ safety is in question.

    *  Dawson County Schools Closed   Based on information from the NWS, Dawson County Schools will be closed on Monday, September 11, 2017. Twelve month employees report.

    *  Lumpkin County Schools Closed   Due to the weather forecast for our area, Lumpkin County Schools will be closed on Monday, September 11, 2017.  The anticipated high winds pose a significant threat to our students and staff. We understand that weather predictions are not always accurate, but we cannot ignore the potentially dangerous situation that this storm poses. Our number one priority is to keep our students and staff safe!  Decisions for future closings will be made as more information becomes available.  Thank you for supporting Lumpkin County Schools!

    *  Towns County Schools will be closed Monday for all students and staff. A decision about Tuesday will be made tomorrow afternoon.

    *  White County Schools Closed Due to the severe weather forecast, White County Schools are closed for students and staff Monday, September 11, 2017. Please be safe!

    *  Murray County Schools Closed Murray County Schools will be closed Monday September 11 and Tuesday September 12, due to the possible impact of Hurricane Irma.   We have made this decision after consultation with local emergency management authorities and careful consideration of safety factors, such as the probability of severe winds, debris, dangerous road conditions, and downed power lines.  We understand that weather predictions are often incorrect, but the size of this storm cannot be ignored. It is our hope that Murray County is spared from any of this storm’s impact, but we will always choose to error on the side of caution.  All events planned for Monday and Tuesday evenings are also cancelled.  This includes the September 11 MCPS Board meeting.  This meeting will be rescheduled for Thursday, September 14 at 6:15 p.m.  All maintenance, grounds crew, and transportation employees will meet at the transportation office.

School closings and traffic reports

News

UPDATE: All Cherokee County Schools’ athletic events scheduled for this evening are cancelled.

The Murphy versus Hiawassee Dam high school basketball game will be played Monday. The Andrews versus Robbinsville high school game will be rescheduled for a later time.

All wrestling matches are cancelled as well.

We are now under a winter weather warning, so please use caution and judgement when traveling.

 

MURPHY, N.C.- A winter weather advisory for Cherokee County, North Carolina, is in effect until Saturday, December 8. One to three inches of snow accumulation in the lower elevations with more in the higher elevations are expected, and roads will be treacherous, so please use caution.

Road Reports
North Carolina: 877-511-4662
Tennessee: 877-244-0065
Georgia: 888-635-8287
You can also dial 511 from your phone or visit the state link here: NC DOT GA DOT TN DOT

Closing and Delays

Below are a list of schools that are closed today, Dec. 8, 2017:

Cherokee County Schools    CLOSED (OPTIONAL TEACHER WORKDAY)
Clay County Schools     CLOSED (OPTIONAL TEACHER WORKDAY)
​Fannin County Schools     CLOSED
Graham County Schools      CLOSED (OPTIONAL TEACHER WORKDAY)
​Murphy Adventist Christian School   CLOSED (YARD SALE ALSO CANCELLED)
Nantahala School    CLOSED (OPTIONAL TEACHER WORKDAY)
North Georgia Technical College    Monitor www.northgatech.edu for updates
Polk County Schools     COPPER BASIN SCHOOLS CLOSED
Southwestern Community College    Monitor www.southwesterncc.edu for updates or on

Facebook

The Learning Center Charter School    Follows Cherokee County Schools closings/delays
TCCC: Peachtree/Marble     CLOSED
TCCC: Graham County    CLOSED
Towns County Schools     CLOSED
Tri-County Early College    CLOSED
Union County Schools    CLOSED

Expect occasional snow to continue for the next several hours. Continue to check back with us for possible updates.

If you have any traffic reports, please email us at [email protected].

Have a great day and stay safe if you venture out today.

 

*UPDATED* School Closings Due to Severe Weather Conditions

News
  • Union County Schools will be CLOSED Monday, September 11th and Tuesday, September 12th due to Gov. Nathan Deal declaring a state of emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia. Please continue to monitor here for further updates.
  •  Fannin County Schools will be closed for students and all personnel on Monday, September 11 and Tuesday, September 12, for students, as well as all faculty and staff, except for 12-month personnel, district directors, and principals. As long as it is safe to do so, all 12-month personnel, as well as district directors and principals, should anticipate reporting by 9:00 a.m. on September 12.  These personnel should note, though, that this expectation may be revised, depending on the weather conditions overnight; nonetheless, if you ever believe it is unsafe to report, please notify your immediate supervisor. In addition, the Board of Education work session meeting that was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12, has been cancelled.  Please continue to stay safe!
  • Pickens County Schools closed Monday, September 11th – TWELVE MONTH EMPLOYEES REPORT AT NORMAL TIME. Schools will also be closed on Tuesday, September 12.  Twelve month employees will be contacted late Monday as to whether they will be required to come to work on Tuesday. All school activities, including athletic events and after-school programs, will be canceled.
  • Gilmer County Schools  will be closed Monday, September 11th and Sepember 12th due to Hurricane Irma. We have made this decision after consultation with local emergency management authorities and careful consideration of safety factors, such as the probability of severe winds especially at higher elevations, debris, dangerous road conditions and downed power lines left in its wake. Only 12 month staff should report if safe to do so.
  • Dawson County Schools  will be closed on Monday, September 11, and Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Twelve month employees will operate on a 2 hour delay.
  • Lumpkin County Schools closed due to the weather forecast for our area, Lumpkin County Schools will be closed on Monday, September 11, and Tuesday, September 12, 2017. The anticipated high winds pose a significant threat to our students and staff. We understand that weather predictions are not always accurate, but we cannot ignore the potentially dangerous situation that this storm poses. Our number one priority is to keep our students and staff safe! Wednesday will still be a early release day as planned so that teachers will be available for parent conferences. 12 month employees should report if it is safe to do so. 
  • Towns County Schools closed Monday, September 11th and Tuesday, September 12th for all students. All employees should report at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, September 12th if safe to do so.
  • White County Schools due to the severe weather forecast, White County Schools are closed for students and staff Monday, September 11, and Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Please be safe!
  • Murray County Schools closed Monday September 11 and Tuesday September 12, due to the possible impact of Hurricane Irma.   We have made this decision after consultation with local emergency management authorities and careful consideration of safety factors, such as the probability of severe winds, debris, dangerous road conditions, and downed power lines.  We understand that weather predictions are often incorrect, but the size of this storm cannot be ignored. It is our hope that Murray County is spared from any of this storm’s impact, but we will always choose to error on the side of caution.  All events planned for Monday and Tuesday evenings are also cancelled.  This includes the September 11 MCPS Board meeting.  This meeting will be rescheduled for Thursday, September 14 at 6:15 p.m.  All maintenance, grounds crew, and transportation employees will meet at the transportation office.

Flash Flood Watch for North Georgia

News

This information is from the National Weather Service. To see the full NWS Radar Image for Georgia please follow the link.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy will push east through the weekend. Expect the moisture associated with TS Cindy to interact with a boundary that will move south across the region through Saturday night. Given the already saturated soils and plentiful moisture expected with this front, we may see more flooding issues, especially across north GA.

Over the past 24 hours, we have observed 1-3 inches of rainfall, mainly north of I-20.  This will be the main area of concern in terms of flooding potential.

WHAT:

Flash Flood Watch is in effect across north GA (along and north of I-20).


WHEN:

From 2 PM this afternoon through 8 PM Saturday evening.

IMPACTS:

An additional 1-2 inches with locally higher amounts is possible, potentially within the metro Atlanta area and points north and west.  This may lead to flooding in low lying and flood prone areas, especially in urban areas and along Interstate 20. In addition, creeks, streams and rivers may overflow their banks.

 

Heavy Rains Bring Flooding in North Georgia on Christmas Eve

Featured, Featured Stories, News

Heavy rains and thunderstorms throughout the night caused flooding in multiple areas in North Georgia.  Rains and thunderstorms were steady throughout the night and into the morning with another round expected later today, Christmas Eve 2015.

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Reports and photos coming in show areas in Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens Counties where flood waters are rising.  FYN has reports of roads covered in water, bridges closed or out, and other areas under water.

https://youtu.be/iJYo87l0Ea8

Authorities warn citizens to use caution and do not enter areas where you cannot tell how deep the water may be.  We will bring additional information as received.

https://youtu.be/e9r-hMGkit4

 

https://youtu.be/fjlpzqlxibQ

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