Water rescue in Burke County, evacuations in Alexander, McDowell counties as Helene moves through (2025)

Almost 15,000 in the Catawba Valley are without power as of 6 a.m. The N.C. Department of Transportation reported 18 road closures in the area due to flooding or downed trees and power lines.

At 5 a.m., the National Weather Service said Hurricane Helene had weakened to a tropical storm. Maximum sustained winds decreased to 70 mph with higher gusts.

However, the weather service advised it was still expecting catastrophic flooding for western North Carolina. The weather service said landslides would occur across the mountains with damaging debris flows and slope failures likely.

The weather service forecasted that most of the rain and wind would move out of the area by around 1 p.m.

Much of the area is expected to receive two to three more inches of rain with four to five inches expected for higher elevations.

Roads closed in Burke, Alexander, Caldwell

At least 18 roads across Alexander, Caldwell and Burke counties were closed due to Hurricane Helene on Friday, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation’s website.

None were listed as closed in Catawba County as of 6:30 a.m.

Burke had the most closings with 15 roads listed. Those roads are N.C. Highway 126, Bost Road, Spainhour Road, Parks Drive, Shady Grove Road, Bryant Road, East Parker Road, Antioch Road, John’s River Loop, John’s River Road, Henderson Mill Road, Lost Corner Road, Corpening Bridge Road, Nolan Wood Heights and Fish Hatchery Road. All these listed roads are closed in both directions.

The closed Burke County roads are estimated to be closed until noon to 2 p.m. Friday.

Brown Mountain Beach Road in Caldwell County is closed in both directions. That road is estimated to be closed until 9 p.m. Friday.

Robinette Road and Lambert Fork Road in Alexander County are closed in both directions. These roads are estimated to be closed until noon Friday.

Lake levels rise

On its website, Duke Energy said Lake James, Lake Rhodiss and Lookout Shoals Lake were spilling.

As of 6:40 a.m., Lookout Shoals Lake is at 103.2 feet. That’s 3.2 feet about the lake’s maximum level, according to Duke Energy. The lake is expected to reach over 110 feet, according to Duke Energy.

Over the period of record since 1929, the previous maximum level reached at Lookout Shoals Lake was 114.4 ft. Lake residents should prepare for flooding conditions and closely monitor lake levels.

Lake James was at 104.7 feet at 6:40 a.m. The maximum level for Lake James is 100 feet, according to Duke Energy. The lake is expected to exceed record levels Friday.

Lake Hickory was at 97 feet at 6:40 a.m., according to Duke Energy.

An emergency shelter has been established for families that live along the Catawba River downstream of Oxford Dam, according to a news release from the Alexander County Sheriff's Office.

On Thursday night, deputies were serving evacuation notices on Fred Jolly Lane, River Shoals Ridge Drive, Mountaire Drive, Carl Fox Road, Perry Fox Lane, Olive Road, Grasshopper Circle and Stewart Rock Road.

Residents are advised to stay with family or friends during the storm, or to visit the emergency shelter at Wittenburg Volunteer Fire Department, the sheriff's office posted on Facebook.

Duke Energy urged people living along lakes and rivers or in flood-prone areas to use caution.

Burke County

In Burke County, swift water rescue teams were on scene at N.C. Highway 126 and Parks Drive, according to a post from the Burke County Rescue and SAR Facebook page. The post said the Linville River had completely covered the bridge there. Rescues were ongoing.

Burke County officials issued voluntary evacuation orders Thursday evening for the areas around the Linville River, Lake James, Johns River, Catawba River, Lake Rhodhiss and Henry Fork River that are prone to flooding, along with campgrounds, RV parks and other recreational sites. Any other residents who live near streams, creeks, ponds, rivers and lakes that are prone to flooding were encouraged to evacuate.

McDowell County

McDowell County Emergency Management officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for two areas Friday morning as the first bands of Hurricane Helene bring heavy rain to the area.

An evacuation order was issued for Ponderosa Park campground off U.S. Highway 221 Business in Marion around 4:05 a.m., according to an alert from the McDowell County Sheriff's Office.

About 30 minutes later, a second order was issued for Bungalow Drive in Marion off Garden Creek Road.

Emergency alerts from the sheriff's office said both areas were in imminent danger of being surrounded by the Catawba River.

"Emergency personnel will not be able to access the park based upon projected river levels," the alert for Ponderosa Park said. "Now is the time to move to higher ground. Take immediate action to protect your life."

McDowell County has opened an emergency shelter at Glenwood Baptist Church, 155 Glenwood Baptist Church Road, Marion. Call 828-652-3241 if you need transportation to the shelter.

As of 6 a.m. Friday, Duke Energy reported 2,300 customers without power in McDowell County. Repairs will begin when weather allows, the Duke Energy website said.