FFWGSP The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for. South Central Alexander County in the piedmont of North Carolina. North Central Catawba County in the piedmont of North Carolina. West Central Iredell County in the piedmont of North Carolina. * Until 800 PM EDT Saturday. * At 147 PM EDT, Devastating rainfall of 6-25 inches has occurred since Wednesday evening from Lake Hickory to the Catawba River headwaters, with the highest totals exceeding 2 feet along the Blue Ridge Escarpment across the upper Catawba River watershed. This is resulting in catastrophic and historic inflows into Catawba River reservoirs and this water is being moved through the system to Lookout Shoals Lake and points downstream. Major flooding is developing at Lookout Shoals Lake. * The latest pool elevations for the upper Catawba River lakes are as follows (Full Pool is 100.0 feet): Lake James: 104.70 feet and steady. Lake Rhodhiss: 106.40 feet and rising steadily. Lake Hickory: 99.40 feet and steady. Lookout Shoals Lake: 106.60 feet and rising rapidly. * Based on current rainfall forecasts and conditions, Duke Energy expects Lookout Shoals Lake to reach or exceed 110.0 feet later today, which is 10.0 feet over full pond. The current record pool elevation at Lookout Shoals Lake is 114.40 feet which occurred in August 1940. Lookout Shoals Lake reached 108.30 feet on November 12, 2020, which is the highest crest in the modern era. Major Flood Stage is 106.0 feet. These lake levels will cause unprecedented, catastrophic flooding of Lookout Shoals Lake and possibly adjacent reaches of the Catawba River. This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Catawba River from below Oxford Dam to below Lookout Shoals Lake. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! HAZARD. Life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding from dam floodgate releases caused by excessive rainfall. SOURCE. Duke Energy and Catawba County Emergency Management IMPACT. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Life-threatening, catastrophic, and potential historic flash flooding of areas along the Catawba River from Oxford Dam to Lookout Shoals Lake. At 108.0 feet. Major Flooding continues. Devastating, widespread structural flooding within the Carpenters Cove community and along portions of Longfield St near Shadeview Ln is ongoing. Significant first-floor inundation is ongoing, exceeding 4 feet in several locations. Water rescues may be ongoing. * Flash flooding will affect areas of the Catawba River from Oxford Dam to near I-40, including Lookout Shoals Lake. * This has the potential to be a historic and extremely dangerous event. Please stay weather aware and monitor lake levels and Duke Energy projections closely for any changes. * For more information on lake levels or dam releases, people are encouraged to visit http://lakes.duke-energy.com or call 1-800-829-5253. * Residents along Lookout Shoals Lake should contact Catawba County Emergency Management immediately to update their contact information using the following direct link to their Community Alert System web page at: https://www.catawbacountync.gov/alert
