A storm system moving off the coast of the Carolinas on Monday that wasn't fully a tropical storm produced what forecasters called “historic rainfall,” comparable to the totals that fell during Tropical Storm Debby last month.
What is currently being called Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight will likely make landfall late Monday night near Georgetown, S.C. While some factors could prevent it from becoming the next named storm Helene, the dangers remain the same.
Flash flooding hit southeastern North Carolina Monday afternoon after more than a half-foot of rain fell overnight. Weather forecasters are warning that flash flooding will continue, with an additional four to eight inches of rain expected by the afternoon.
Tropical Storm Debby brought more than a foot of rain to parts of the Carolinas in August, submerging vehicles and even threatening garbage sites. Forecasters initially didn't expect so much rain on Monday. But by afternoon, some places like Sunny Point, N.C., had already received nearly 15 inches of rain, the most that North Carolina received during Debby.
Carolina Beach, NC has received more than 18 inches of rain since midnight, more than the 11 inches that the beachfront community received during Debby. Forecasters in Wilmington, NC described the possibility of so much rain in just 12 hours as a once-in-a-thousand-years event.
Tropical storm warning issued from South Charleston, South Carolina to North Wilmington, North Carolina
At schools in New Hanover County, which was partially under a flood warning Monday afternoon, all students were dismissed early and classes were canceled at Carolina Beach Elementary School, just a few blocks from the coast. All schools in neighboring Brunswick County canceled classes Tuesday.
Local Wilmington television station WECT showed footage of cars and cargo vans stuck in floodwaters, as well as road closures in the area. Several roads in Brunswick County collapsed or partially collapsed on Monday, according to a post shared on Facebook by the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office.
Brunswick County government offices remained closed due to the emergency declared Monday. City officials in Southport, N.C., about 30 miles south of Wilmington, closed roads to all incoming traffic and asked residents to remain safe in their homes or workplaces, according to a Facebook post by the city.
Key things to know
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Most of the rain will fall near or north of the storm's center, with widespread amounts of four to eight inches, and some areas of North Carolina will receive nearly 10 inches.
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Forecasters in Wilmington, North Carolina, said they were not sure where the heaviest rain would fall and that the location of the worst rainfall could change.
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Even though unnamed, the storm could produce waves one to three feet high along the coast.
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As the storm's center approaches land this afternoon, it is expected to weaken, but will still have tropical storm force winds of over 39 mph and higher gusts.
A typical storm system moving across the United States will get its energy from the interaction of cold and warm air masses, which is what forecasters believe is happening off the coast of the Carolinas this morning. A tropical cyclone, such as a tropical storm or hurricane, will get its power from warm, humid air rising from the ocean's surface.