Get ready, North Carolina. ‘A wet & wild storm’ is on the way, forecasters say
Strong storms are expected to move through North Carolina this week, dumping inches of rain across the state, according to the National Weather Service.
The highest rain totals will be in the mountains, with some areas west of Asheville expected to get 4 to 5 inches between Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters said.
“A wet & wild storm is in store for us” on Wednesday and Thursday, with powerful thunderstorms on Thursday, the NWS office in Greenville, South Carolina, said on Twitter. “This maybe the most rain from a single storm in #2020.”
Heavy rain is expected throughout the state, but the mountains could see the most rainfall — 3 to 6 inches, North Carolina Emergency Management said. “Excessive rainfall may lead to flooding in some areas.”
Communities from Charlotte to Raleigh and Fayetteville should expect widespread rain with 2 to 4 inches possible, according to NWS forecasters in Raleigh.
Timing will also depend on geography, with rain moving from the mountains starting Tuesday afternoon to eastern parts of the state some time Friday, according to North Carolina Emergency Management.
“Strong to severe thunderstorms will develop along and ahead of the cold front Thursday into Friday morning. Heavy rain, damaging winds and small hail are the main storm threats,” emergency management officials said on Facebook.
High temperatures are expected to drop by about 10 degrees across the state after the storm moves through, with highs around 50 in the mountains and 60 in the rest of the state, according to state officials.
Some rivers across the state could flood from the storm system, and people should watch out for potential flash flooding, damage from high winds and the potential for tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
