Irene + Lee + Katia - Oh, my!

Despite dry conditions, significant rainfall is predicted Sunday into Wednesday for the Catawba River system!

I'm here in Morganton, near Lake James, in western NC. Though Tropical Storm Lee is moving from the Louisiana coast, it is forecast to merge with an approaching cold front on Monday, Labor Day.

We sure could use the rain, but predicted rainfall totals for the southern Appalachians and the Carolinas Monday and Tuesday are at 5-7 inches for the mountains and 3 - 5 inches for the Piedmont.

In the Atlantic, current forecast tracks keep Hurricane Katia offshore of the Carolinas and East Coast, taking it back out to sea next weekend.

What I know from experience is that when significant rainfall hits the mountains, it rushes down our way through (among others) the rivers which feed into Lake James, most notably, the Linville, the Catawba, and Paddy's Creek.

Check out the Hydrometeorlogical Prediction Center's (HPC of NOAA) forecast from Sunday morning (9/4/11), which shows the five-day forecast.

The Lake James Environmental Association "encourages those living along lakes, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone areas to pay special attention to changing weather conditions and take any necessary precautions. Please visit the Duke Energy website (http://www.duke-energy.com/lakes/levels.asp ) for special messages, or call the lake information line at 800-829-5253 for updates. "

Please be careful out there, y'all!