Tropical Storm Helene brought heavy rain and floods to parts of the southeast U.S. on Friday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Helene was located at latitude 35.1°N and longitude 83.8°W which put the center about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Bryson City, North Carolina.  Helene was moving toward the north at 32 m.p.h. (52 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Savannah River, Georgia to Little River Inlet, South Carolina.

Tropical Storm Warnings were also in effect for inland locations in South Carolina, eastern Georgia, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. 

Even though former Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical storm as it moved over the southeastern U.S. on Friday, Helene still was dropping very heavy rain.  Heavy rain fell over parts of Georgia, South Carolina, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and western Virginia.  The heavy rain caused rivers and streams to rise quickly in those areas and numerous flash flood and flood warnings were issued.

The Catawba River at Pleasant Gardens, North Carolina was at Record Flood level.  The Saluda River at Greenville, South Carolina was at Major Flood level.  The French Broad River at Blantyre, North Carolina was at Record Flood level.  The Pigeon River at Canton, North Carolina was at Record Flood level.  The Pigeon River at Newport, Tennessee was at Major Flood level.  The Swannanoa River at Biltmore, North Carolina was at Record Flood level.  Numerous other rivers and streams in the region were also flooding.  Many roads were impassible.

Over four million customers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina were experiencing electricity outages.

Tropical Storm Helene will move around the eastern side of an upper level low over the middle Mississippi River Valley.  The upper level low will steer Helene toward the north during the next 24 hours.  The circulation around Tropical Storm Helene will gradually merge with the circulation around the upper level low.

Tropical Storm Helene will continue to drop heavy rain on the southern Appalachians.  the heavy rain is likely to cause additional flash floods.  Helene will also bring gusty winds as far north as southern and central Ohio on Friday afternoon and evening.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, former Tropical Storm Isaac intensified to a hurricane west of the Azores and Tropical Storm Joyce formed east of the Northern Leeward Islands.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Isaac was located at latitude 37.4°N and longitude 46.8°W which put the center about 1080 miles (1740 km) west of the Azores.  Isaac was moving toward the east-northeast at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 981 mb.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Joyce was located at latitude 18.1°N and longitude 42.9°W which put the center about 1325 miles (2130 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands.  Joyce was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.