Overview
- Heavy rain that fell on Memorial Day into early Tuesday produced 2 to 5+ inches in parts of Henderson County and triggered rapid flash flooding and multiple water rescues.
- The National Weather Service issued active flash-flood warnings and cautioned that saturated ground makes additional storms likely to produce more localized flooding through the week.
- Crews discovered an approximately 12-foot hole washed out beneath Charlotte Highway near the Henderson-Buncombe line, forcing a full closure while NCDOT orders extended excavation and repairs.
- NCDOT also closed part of US 74A and emergency agencies in Henderson, Buncombe and Rutherford counties urged residents to avoid flooded roads, move to higher ground and heed rescue teams.
- Officials warn the damage highlights how Hurricane Helene’s 2024 destruction left slopes and infrastructure fragile, which could prolong repairs, disrupt tourism and raise recovery costs if heavy rain returns.