Flood in Smyth County, Virginia

Water from the South Fork Holston River rose up to the foundations of two homes in the 400 block of Riverside Road. One home was empty while the residents of the other home were evacuated as a precaution. The stage of the USGS gage of the South Fork Holston River at Riverside was around 5.50 feet at the time, and continued to rise as the day progressed. No injuries were reported.

An upper level low was situated in the vicinity of western Tennessee, while a strong upper ridge was positioned over the southeast coast, which helped to steer Hurricane Helene into the Florida Big Bend during the evening of September 26. Ahead of Helene, the Predecessor Rainfall Event (PRE) that developed on the 25th continued to intensify as upper level areas of low pressure rotating around the upper low continued drawing deep tropical moisture from the Carolina coastal region, which supported nearly continual waves of showers and storms over western Virginia through the day. Through the 26th, rivers and creeks began to rise as four to eight inches of rain fell through the day mainly along and west of Interstate 77. At times, localized rates of two inches per hour were observed. In addition, as Hurricane Helene approached the area, winds above the surface increased in speed, and the showers and isolated storms helped bring these strong winds to the surface, resulting in reports of downed trees.