The Summary The devastation in western North Carolina is a result of a combination of factors related to climate change and the terrain. Mountains tend to block weather systems and squeeze out more rain, while steep slopes raise flood risk. At the same time, climate change is making storms stronger and wetter. What's more, the area around Asheville had gotten heavy rain before Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida. Asheville and its surrounding towns in western North Carolina had just been soaked by a severe rainstorm when the remnants of Hurricane Helene slammed into the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Persons: Helene, Hurricane Helene, ”, Doug Outlaw, ” Outlaw, “ Organizations: National Weather Service Locations: North Carolina, Asheville, Florida, Greenville, Spartanburg , South Carolina, North, Appalachia