Tennessean reporter Kelly Puente and photographer Andrew Nelles traveled to Western North Carolina to help colleagues cover the aftermath of Helene.

YOU CAN TELL THERE ARE SHOWERS THERE ARE STORMS OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY ASSOCIATED WITH WITH A BIG DYNAMIC FALL STORM SYSTEM OVER THE PLAINS. THERE IS A COLD FRONT AND A WARM FRONT ...

Tourists stayed away from western North Carolina this year after Helene swept through the area, and towns that depend on leaf lookers are bracing for big losses.