Helene brings high flooding potential to N.C.

Hurricane Helene is expected to bring flooding to much of North Carolina on Thursday and Friday, as the storm quickly strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico.

The latest: Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Wednesday ahead of Helene's arrival.

• Up to 15 inches of rain is forecast for the southern Appalachians, where there is a "high risk" of flash flooding, the most severe category.
• But central North Carolina is also likely to get several inches from the extremely large storm system.