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Helene’s historic weather impact by the numbers

As clean up continues, we’re looking at river levels, rain totals, and wind gusts from Helene’s historic weather impact.

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This was a weather event for the record books. | Photo via @whiteduckgvl.airportroad

Helene dropped inches of rain and brought tropical storm-force winds + caused area rivers to rise to historic levels.

We’re breaking down Helene’s historic weather impact by the numbers.

Rainfall totals

  • Greenville recorded 11.53 in of rain.
  • Rocky Bottom in northern Pickens County received the most recorded rain in SC with 21.66 in.

Highest wind gusts

  • Greenville-Spartanburg recorded 68 mph winds.
  • Downtown Greenville recorded 64 mph winds.
  • Sassafras Mountain in Pickens County saw the highest wind speeds in SC at 73 mph.

Reedy River levels

  • Near Falls Park + Unity Park | The river peaked at 16.19 ft compared to 1.1 ft before the storm
  • Near the south end of Downtown Greenville | The river peaked at 13.34 ft (breaking a previous record of 11.9 ft) compared to 0.7 ft before the storm

Saluda Lake Dam levels

  • The dam reached a peak of 20.23 feet during Hurricane Helene — the previous record was 19.4 ft.

Saluda River levels

  • The Saluda River (above Old Easley Road) reached 20.23 ft — one of the highest levels of flooding since the Saluda River flood in 1949.
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