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North Carolina was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene during late September 2024, primarily in its western Appalachian region, causing at least 105 reported deaths and significant destruction of infrastructure and residential areas across several settlements. After making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on September 27, the hurricane began to traverse over land 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 settlements in western North Carolina, such as Asheville, Swannanoa, Spruce Pine, Chimney Rock, Montreat, 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.
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.
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.
Many counties in western North Carolina did not have strong building codes to protect against the conditions brought on by Hurricane Helene, in part because of opposition from the North Carolina Home Builders Association.
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. Asheville Regional Airport recorded of rainfall before losing communication. 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. Significant closures also occurred on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including on US 441.
Impact.
At least 105 people were killed in North Carolina, while about 200 more were left unaccounted for in the state as of November 6. 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.
Appalachian State's football game against Liberty was canceled due to flooding and was not rescheduled. A mudslide and floodwaters from the Pigeon River swept a section of Interstate 40 at the North Carolina–Tennessee border away, forcing another 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 . The University of North Carolina at Asheville canceled all classes through October 9, along with Appalachian State campuses of Boone and Hickory through October 5, and Western Carolina University through October 4.
Areas in the Black Mountains region in western North Carolina were particularly devastated, with the Black Mountain Police Chief reporting that Montreat and Swannanoa were “gone” with neighborhoods destroyed, including homes that were on fire, along with numerous fatalities that could not immediately be dealt with. 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.
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 October 30, 43 people were killed in Buncombe County alone, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), while more than 200 people remain missing.
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. 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. Access to Asheville was cut off from September 27–28 via I-26 to South Carolina.
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.
Swannanoa.
Floodwaters in Swannanoa caused the Davidson Road Bridge to collapse. Residents of the town reported to local media outlets that there were multiple missing persons who were living in rural areas. Residents also reported that no search and rescue operations had reached their location as of September 29, leaving several residents who had not prepared for the degree of flooding without food or drinkable water. At least one missing person was living near the Bee Tree Christian Church, which had been destroyed by flooding and fallen trees.
Damage to the town included cars that had been lifted to the tops of trees by the elevated floodwaters, thick mud burying several businesses and roads, and several homes along the river that were destroyed and deposited far downstream. A resident reported that it took less than an hour for water in one residential area to rise by over 4 feet.
Catawba County.
In Catawba County, Helene produced wind gusts up to at the Hickory Regional Airport. Consequently, power outages occurred and numerous trees were toppled. Heavy rains caused one indirect death and two injuries due to a car accident. Although minor flooding was reported along streams, the release of water via the Oxford Dam resulted in major flooding on the Catawba River and Lookout Shoals Lake. Consequently, the latter crested at its height level since 1940 – . Downstream flooding prompted evacuations and damaged several homes.
Haywood County.
in Haywood County, the Pigeon River crested higher than in previous floods in 2004 and 2021. Canton mayor Zeb Smathers described the damage as "apocalyptic". The Pisgah High School football field which had been flooded twice already in three years would have to be renovated once again, and relocation was being considered. The sale of the Pactiv Evergreen plant was delayed and the sewage treatment plant was having problems. Flooding in Bethel and Clyde was described as the worst ever. In Waynesville, the Frog Level and Hazelwood sections experienced the worst flooding ever from Richland Creek. Frog Level had more structural damage. Maggie Valley had some businesses flooded by Jonathan Creek.
McDowell County.
In Marion, the county seat of McDowell County, a couple's home was destroyed by a mudslide, requiring a rescue by a pulley system, leaving one missing. A Baxter International manufacturing plant was heavily impacted by floodwaters, forcing its temporary closure and halting of the production of medications, dialysis solutions, and IV fluids for nationwide distribution. The Town of Old Fort was particularly hit hard when the convergence of Mill Creek, and the Catawba River washed the center of the town away, causing significant damage to bridges, roads, and parts of I-40 along the Catawba River. A primary road way, Catawba Ave, experienced a surge in flood waters due to multiple bridges across Mill River. One resident's rough estimation indicates nearly 820 have become homeless due to Hurricane Helene's devastating flood waters. The wind and water had tossed mobile homes hundreds of yards and washed away cars into the Catawba River, leaving the town's residents to wait for the restoration of cell service and the arrival of help from across North Carolina. The Historic Mauney House, office space and meeting space for the Mountain Gateway Museum, was damaged significantly due to fallen trees in the rushing floodwaters. Old Fort Elementary (built in 2020) experienced extensive flooding due to creek convergences, as such, closed with students relocating to nearby schools. A section of I-40 at Old Fort mountain experienced a massive slide, in combination with other road closures, cut off access to the Town of Old Fort from other cities for several days.
Mitchell County.
Spruce Pine, the largest town in Mitchell County, was heavily inundated with 24.12 inches of rainfall and the swelling of the North Toe River, significantly damaging the downtown area and destroying several shops, roads, and connections to water and electricity. Due to Spruce Pine being one of the few places in the world with "ultra-high quality" quartz mines essential for semiconductor production, damage from Helene was predicted to hamper global microchip supplies and technological supply chains if the town's quartz mines were damaged and shut down for long periods.
Rutherford County.
Chimney Rock.
Chimney Rock was one of the most severely damaged of all the towns by Hurricane Helene. National Weather Service data indicated that over 19 inches of rain fell in areas upstream and to the west of Chimney Rock, leading to devastating floodwaters that destroyed half of the village according to rescue crew, including half of the businesses on the south side of the village near the Broad River. Most of Main Street and most of the businesses located on it were destroyed by the rapid floodwaters, with Pamlico County Emergency Manager Chris Murray remarking, "I’ve never seen concentrated damage like we’ve seen here... There’s nothing left."
Pamlico County rescue personnel reported that they had rescued four people, and evacuated 106 more people in addition to two cats and two dogs. Many of those isolated due to the lack of power and available communication were airlifted by Rutherford County Emergency Management to RS Central High School.
Lake Lure.
The National Weather Service stated that 19 inches of rain had fallen to the west of Lake Lure, leading to significant rising of its water levels by the morning of September 26 that caused extensive flooding. Marina docks and boats on the lake