After making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane Thursday, Helene has continued rolling through the South, bringing strong winds and heavy rains to Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — After making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane Thursday, Helene has continued rolling through the South, bringing strong winds and heavy rains to Tennessee.
Residents began seeing the impacts late Thursday night, and the rain and gusty winds are not expected to let up until Saturday morning. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., emergency crews in the Nashville area received 66 calls for service, mostly regarding flooding and trees being knocked down by the high winds.
Nashville Electric Service crews have responded to at least one report of a tree coming down into wires, and the National Weather Service said more tree damage is expected with the strong winds produced by Helene. Gusts could reach up to 50 mph, with some of the strongest winds likely in the eastern parts of the state.
Many residents and businesses were left in the dark Friday morning as gusts resulted in several power outages. As of 9 a.m. the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said more than 62,000 Tennesseans were without power, and more outages are expected throughout the day.
Officials said residents should be prepared for outages by gathering flashlights, batteries, and backup power sources. Generators should only be used outdoors and away from windows, and other electronics should be disconnected to prevent damage from electrical surges.
Reports of flooding in Nashville have included many spots along interstates and Murfreesboro Pike. According to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), some spots of concern have been Murfreesboro Pike and Arlington Avenue, Murfreesboro Pike and Menzler Road, as well as 12th Ave North and Phillips Street.
Some other Middle Tennessee counties, including Cheatham and Montgomery, have also reported ponding on roads. Sumner County’s emergency management director told News 2 one of the biggest problems in the area might be winds and trees blocking roads.
Storm shelters have been established by several counties for those who may be in need during the severe weather. To find a nearby shelter, visit TEMA’s map, which is continuously updated.
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This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.