High Wind — Southeast Carter, Tennessee

2024-09-27 · Southeast Carter, Tennessee

Event narrative

Winds estimated up to 100 mph likely occurred due to Helene's passage at the top of Roan Mountain to Carver's Gap, where extreme forest devastation was noted by a storm chaser and other Appalachian Trail local hikers. Hundreds of wind-resistant firs were felled around 6,000 feet in elevation, with videos and pictures showing snapped, leaning, or completely uprooted trees along the trail and in the distance for hundreds of yards each direction on the AT trail and off the trail.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Helene caps off a several day heavy rainfall event in association with a stalled closed upper low that drew a stream of tropical moisture into the area on the 25th and 26th. The arrival of Helene on the 27th yielded catastrophic flash flooding and river flooding, as well as significant wind damage as wet soils and strong wind gusts led to forest damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1218014. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.