When and where Tropical Storm Claudette could cause flooding and tornadoes in NC
The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a tropical storm warning for southeastern North Carolina as Tropical Storm Claudette approaches the state.
Forecasters said isolated flooding could result from heavy rainfall anywhere along the southeastern coast, along with isolated tornadoes from early Sunday into Sunday night. Winds of 40 mph could occur in New Hanover and Pender counties Sunday night, forecasters said. One to 3 inches of rain can be expected in the area, with the possibility of locally higher amounts.
The storm’s passing will also cause hazardous marine weather conditions along the coast Sunday night, the NWS said.
Conditions are expected to improve Monday as the system moves offshore.
Claudette began as a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico, and became a tropical storm early Saturday, once it had sustained winds of more than 39 mph. It made landfall in Louisiana Saturday morning and has been tracking northeasterly, across the Southeastern U.S., bringing thunderstorms and heavy rain to Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
As it moved inland, the storm weakened but is expected to strengthen again as it nears the coast of North Carolina early Monday and moves offshore. Its track across the state brought rain that was expected to continue through Sunday well beyond the watch area, reaching from Charlotte, through the Piedmont and into the northeast corner of the state.
For the Triangle, the weather service is calling for showers continuing through Monday, with a total expected rainfall of about one and a half inches. The weather service said thunderstorms are also possible.
More rain, from a different storm system, is expected to start on Tuesday.
This story was originally published June 19, 2021 at 3:04 PM.
