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Roads closed, some landslides, another 4 inches of rain expected

FOOTHILLS—Rain came back with a vengeance this week a day after the 2-year anniversary of catastrophic rainfall in the Pacolet Valley.

Tryon received 5.85 inches of rain on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, which is more rain than the area normally receives for the entire month of May. The normal amount of rain for the month of May is 4.57 inches.

As of Wednesday, Tryon had received 7.75 inches of rain for the month and forecasts were for the area to receive another 3-5 inches of rain on Wednesday and even more through next Tuesday.

Several roads were closed in the area on Tuesday, but as of Wednesday all roads had been reopened, including North Trade Street in Tryon. North Trade Street in downtown was closed Tuesday and Wednesday morning but had reopened as of press time.

Several trees had fallen in the area, causing widespread power outages Tuesday as well as Internet services down throughout Tuesday. There were 2 trees down on Skyuka Road in the Tryon area Wednesday morning that caused further power outages in that area.

Local rivers and lakes crested Tuesday, with Lake Lanier having reports of water being 15 inches over the top of docks in some areas. The Lake Lanier Dam was raging Tuesday and a section of a hill at the dam slid off.

Roads that were closed Tuesday in Polk County included River Road, a portion of Hunting Country Road and North Trade Street. There were also some roads closed in South Carolina.

Polk County Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge said on Wednesday that there were also several small landslides Tuesday, including off Carolina Drive in Tryon. There were also a couple of rock slides, but nothing major, Arledge said.

“We moved a couple of boulders out of the roadway in the valley this morning,” Arledge said.

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