Historic flooding is underway in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee as heavy rains that preceded the storm combine with the hurricane's tropical rainfall to yield a high threat of landslides and flooding that could eclipse past events.

Helene continues to weaken while moving farther inland over Georgia. The storm was about 40 miles east of Macon and about 100 miles southeast of Atlanta, moving north at 30 mph at 5 a.m., the center in Miami reported.