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Helene continues to strengthen and could reach category 4 status before making landfall in Florida. The cloud cover from the storm extends hundreds of miles and will impact central North Carolina with heavy rain, strong winds and the chance for isolated tornadoes.

Hurricane Helene to bring 'catastrophic, life-threatening' flooding to parts of NC with widespread outages & tornadoes possible

<p>I'm Wral. Meteorologist K Campbell Hurricane Helene is likely to undergo rapid intensification over the next 24 hours. It's moving north right now at 12 MPH. Still a category one hurricane likely now to strengthen into a category four hurricane on its approach to the Florida Big Bend region. Top winds now forecast to be at 130 MPH. It is possible that number could go up the track veers a bit to the west after that. But the bottom line here is that this is a massive hurricane. The initial tropical storm force winds extend about 400 miles when it makes landfall. So we're still likely to see significant impacts in western North Carolina. Tropical storm warnings are posted and that includes the North Carolina Mountains and Charlotte even hurricane warnings. Well, inland in Georgia, here's a closer look at the tropical storm warning for parts of North and South Carolina. Asheville included. Boone is not, but Charlotte's included as well. So let's take a look here at Futurecast, a cold front already bringing dangerous flooding to the mountains tonight, Thursday, we've got the cold front and the moisture from Helene that ramp up flooding risks to a high risk in the mountains. And we expect landfall to come Thursday evening, Atlanta in the direct path and this could be pretty close to hurricane strength even as far inland as North Georgia expect big impacts to travel and air travel there in Atlanta. For us. The worst of this comes very, very early Friday morning through the early afternoon hours. That's when we're going to see the worst of the rain, the winds and that tornado threat. But it does look like we'll begin to dry out by Friday evening. We'll have a much closer look on WRL news tonight at 10 and 11 at our local impacts and what to expect in the mountains. I also have a video on wrl.com with more on our local impacts. Go to our weather story.</p>

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NC residents, Duke Energy preparing for Hurricane Helene

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US and allies call for an immediate 21-day cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah

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Dennis Draughon, Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: From Capitol Broadcasting Co.'s cartoonist

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NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- A slow-motion catastrophe has been playing out in the coastal North Carolina village of Rodanthe, where 10 houses have fallen into the Atlantic since 2020. Three have been lost since Friday.

10 homes have collapsed into the Carolina surf. Their destruction was decades in the making

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Helene is set to bring rain, wind and the threat of tornadoes to North Carolina. We're answering your questions here.

Q&A: Helene's impact on North Carolina, your plans

Meteorologist Chris Michaels has a Q&A breakdown of Helene

Wayne County sheriff's deputy Michael Kenneth Cox received a six-year, two-month prison sentence for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and a mail and wire fraud conspiracy.

Wayne County deputy sentenced to six-plus years for drug trafficking and fraud conspiracies

Michael Cox

A 10th person has died in the listeria outbreak that shuttered a Boar's Head deli meat plant, federal health officials said Wednesday.

10th death reported in Boar's Head deli meat listeria outbreak

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On Wednesday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said former President Donald Trump should suffer political consequences for endorsing embattled Republican gubernatorial nominee, Mark Robinson.

Trump 'needs to suffer the consequences' for Mark Robinson, Cooper says

Anti-Trump Burnout: The Resistance Says Itâs Exhausted

In the Triangle and across the state, several roads have closed due to floodwaters and downed trees. This comes as we prepare for even more rain from Hurricane Helene.


Roads and lakes closed in Wake County as heavy rains cause overflows and strand drivers

Roxboro sinkhole

NEW YORK (AP) â A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children.

Fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk to merit new EPA action, judge says

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A video of a Cary man jackhammering a trail entrance has gone viral on Reddit, sparking a debate over property rights.

Cary homeowner's jackhammering of trail entrance sparks dispute over its access

As we get closer to the election, local authorities are reminding residents about possible legal trouble for removing political campaign signs from their neighbors' yards after two residents said they had signs stolen in Raleigh.

Raleigh neighbors report illegal campaign sign theft

Campaign signs

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Gen V: Teen Vaping in North Carolina airs this Thursday on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. on WRAL. Tune in to discover the influence of Big Tobacco.

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Blue sea dragon

With hurricane season approaching, it's important to memorize coastal evacuation plans and routes in case of a severe storm.

Hurricane evacuation plans and routes for the North Carolina coast

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North Carolina Republican nominee for governor Mark Robinson is under pressure from some in his party after a CNN report alleged that he described himself as a "Black Nazi" on a pornographic website. 

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Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

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Duke Energy crews are preparing for the possibility of widespread outages with heavy rain and strong winds in the forecast on Friday.

Duke Energy prepares for Helene, potential for widespread outages

Duke Energy power trucks

Raleigh neighbors report illegal political sign theft

Mountains prepare for historic flooding from Hurricane Helene

Caught on cam: Tornado near Blowing Rock, NC

Cary doctor explains what it was like to treat bombing victims in Gaza

Dr. Ayaz Pathan

Top members of Mark Robinson's state office to resign

Video Central

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Man shot Wednesday night on Cornwallis Road, Durham police say

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North Carolina Supreme Court weighs future of CSX plant near Richmond County water source

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IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival takes final bow in Raleigh this week

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, sources say

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UNC Asheville grad's peak fall color website a helpful guide for NC leaf peepers

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WRAL spent months speaking to doctors, people who work for the state and a lot of young people. All said the same thing - kids are finding ways to get vape products, even those to0 young to purchase them legally.

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Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's alleged rejection of the offers sowed doubt among some staff members, people familiar with the matter tell WRAL. His response in the wake of the report likely played a role in the exodus of members of his gubernatorial campaign staff, they said.

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Two different families in Franklin County say BMB Contractors has caused them huge problems.The owner is now facing felony charges.

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