The remnants of Hurricane Sally are headed to the Triangle. Here’s what to expect
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the Triangle and surrounding counties into Friday afternoon as the remnants of Hurricane Sally move through the area.
Rain is expected to pick up Thursday afternoon, with Sally’s rain bands moving through the region. The National Weather Service forecasts 3 to 5 inches of rain with more possible in some areas, according to a briefing packet prepared Thursday morning.
In addition to flash flooding, hazards from the storm could include a few tornadoes this afternoon and evening, as well as minor to moderate flooding of the Haw, Neuse and other major rivers into the weekend.
Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, early Wednesday, bringing ashore sustained winds of 100 mph. The storm also brought 10 to 20 inches of rainfall, with some areas seeing 30 to 35 inches. A 5.6-foot storm surge flooded downtown Pensacola, according to USA Today.
As of 10 a.m., the storm had weakened into a tropical depression, with its center near the Alabama-Georgia line, according to the National Weather Service’s Raleigh office. It was expected to continue moving northeast, with the storm’s center near or just east of Charlotte by about 7 p.m. and drifting off of the coast near Virginia Beach by about 7 a.m. Friday.
In the Triangle, the heaviest rain is expected in the late afternoon and evening hours, per the NWS briefing. As those rain bands move in, the flash flood watches, which mean there is a possibility for flooding, could turn into flash flood warnings, meaning flooding is likely.
Throughout central North Carolina, residents should remain aware of conditions today and look out for warnings, the flash flood watch said.
The tornado risk is highest from an area southeast of Raleigh to the coast, according to the NWS. Much of the Triangle could see isolated severe thunderstorms, while an area from central Johnston County to the coast has a risk of scattered severe thunderstorms.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 11:51 AM.