Storm update: Record rainfall expected in Triangle, flood advisory issued
UPDATE: At 5:35 p.m. The National Weather Service extended a flood advisory for Wake County until 7:45 p.m. Urban and small stream flooding is expected.
Heavy rain and strong winds battered the Triangle on Sunday as a low-pressure system moving up the East Coast brings the potential for record rainfall from the foothills to the beaches.
Rainfall amounts are expected to total 2 to 4 inches, with higher amounts possible in some areas. In particular, the southeastern section of the state could see higher amounts – east of Interstate 95 and south of Interstate 40.
Rainfall records for Dec. 17 in North Carolina range from 1.3 inches to 1.6 inches, said Chrissy Anderson, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the Raleigh office.
“So we will probably break some daily rainfall records,” Anderson said.
Wind gusts as high as 30 mph are expected this afternoon along with thunderstorms, which could continue into the early morning.
What’s bringing all this rain?
The system originated in the Gulf of Mexico and moved into Florida before heading north. It’s expected to travel all the way to the Northeast into next week.
When will the storm head out?
Rain is expected to continue through the night, with more showers going into the wee hours of Monday morning. Another 1 to 2 inches of new precipitation are possible.
According to the National Weather Service, the Triangle and much of Central and Eastern North Carolina are also at an elevated risk for severe thunderstorms until 7 a.m. Monday.
The system should move out of North Carolina Monday morning, with forecasters expecting cloudy skies in the morning followed by a sunny day.
It is supposed to be breezy Monday ahead of a high-pressure system that will move in from the northwest, Anderson said, bringing clear skies and cold air. In Raleigh, the high will be 57 degrees on Monday but on Tuesday and Wednesday, the high is expected to be only in the 40s.
Any advice from the National Weather Service?
▪ Pay attention to watches and warnings.
▪ “Turn around; don’t drown.” Don’t drive through standing water, and be especially careful at night when it’s more difficult to see water on the pavement.
▪ Don’t drive around barricades where streets have been closed.
▪ And, from Anderson: “Definitely get your Christmas shopping done on Saturday.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2023 at 12:57 PM.
