Wake flood warning downgraded as rain subsides, but still in effect till 4:45 p.m.
The National Weather Service has left an “areal flood warning” in effect for Wake County until 4:45 p.m. but the flash food warning it issued earlier has expired.
The warning was initially issued at 5:44 a.m.
As of 8 a.m., the NWS service reported a record-breaking 4.65 inches of rain at RDU Airport. The previous daily record was set in 1894, with 3.97 inches.
A flash flood warning remains in effect for Smithfield, Selma and Four Oaks in Johnston and Wayne counties until 5 p.m. As of just before 1 p.m., the NWS said as much as 3 inches of rain had fallen in the area, with 1 to 3 additional inches possible.
The storm could bring life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, the warning said.
Emergency management reported flooding at apartments on the 5200 block of Dana Drive in Raleigh, called Brook Hill Townhomes WRAL reported, with additional flooding at Crabtree and Walnut creeks and Swift Creek in Apex.
On Twitter, the Raleigh Police Department reported “significant” flooding at West Gate and Fast Park Drive, and, separately, a fallen tree blocking Dixon Drive.
RPD also reported powerlines down at 1806 Wake Forest Rd south of East Whitaker Mill Road, closing northbound and southbound lanes on Wake Forest Road. The road is expected to be closed for a couple of hours, the police department said in a tweet.
In the N.C. mountains, a flood warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. Sunday along parts of the French Broad River in Henderson and Transylvania counties south of Asheville.
Late Friday, the French Broad rose to nearly 17 feet — a foot above flood stage — and continued to flood farmland near the Blantyre community in Transylvania County at 11 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service warning.
DuPont State Recreational Forest in Henderson and Transylvania counties closed all of its single-track trails until Monday due to flooding.
Conditions were far worse in the mountains on Thursday, when “life-threatening flash flooding” from storms led to water rescues and swollen streams in McDowell County, McClatchy News reported, citing the county’s emergency management department.
Charlotte Observer reporter Joe Marusak contributed to this story.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published October 9, 2021 at 8:58 AM.
