Forecast of up to 8 inches of rain raises landslide fears in western North Carolina

Landslides and flash floods are a growing threat in western North Carolina as torrential rains continue through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Up to five inches of rain fell in some parts of western N.C. Tuesday and as much as 4 inches of rain are expected Wednesday, NWS forecasters said early Wednesday. A flash flood watch is in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday.

Some areas could see around eight inches of rain, officials said.

Polk County officials told TV station WLOS that “dozens of secondary roads” are covered in mud after “crews responded to several landslides in higher elevations.” A section of U.S. 64/74A has also caved in 7 miles outside of Lake Lure, Fox Carolina reports.

McDowell County, just east of Asheville, declared a state of emergency at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, due to the high probability of flooding. County officials said 8.5 inches of rain had fallen in the western part of the county since Tuesday, saturating the soil and creating excessive runoff.

Western North Carolina has a 90 percent chance of rain Wednesday and an 80 percent chance tonight through Thursday, NWS forecasters say. The storms will be statewide, with a 100 percent chance today in the Raleigh area and 90 percent likelihood Thursday, the NWS said.

“Several waves of moderate to heavy rainfall and embedded thunderstorms will result in additional rainfall totals of 2 to locally 4 inches by Thursday morning. Additional rainfall of up to 8 inches could fall along and near the northern Blue Ridge Escarpment,” NWS forecasters said in a statement.

“The storms that develop will produce cloud to ground lightning, torrential downpours, and wind gusts capable of knocking down trees weakened by the heavy rain and saturated soil,” the NWS said.

Landslide chances are possible through Wednesday night, while flooding could “persist through late week or longer,” officials said. That’s due in part to another storm front moving across the region on Friday, forecasters said.

People living at the base of mountains and in coves are most at risk from landslides, and should be on the lookout “for loose-moving soil and rocks or a sudden increase in stream flow,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says.

“When driving along roads where the terrain is steep or rocky, watch and listen for falling rocks, mud, trees and other debris,” the NOAA statement said.

The National Weather Service says landslides and rock slides are often associated with storms that produce more than 5 inches of rainfall.

“Sometimes the movement is slow, but often it is fast and can destroy homes or cover roads and highways,” the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality reports.

This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 8:19 AM.