Remnants of Hurricane Zeta prompt flood watches for parts of the Carolinas Thursday

Flash flood watches have been put in effect for parts of North Carolina and South Carolina as former Hurricane Zeta is expected to dump 2 to 4 inches of rain in western counties.

There is a “small threat” of isolated tornadoes, along with very gusty winds (in the 30 to 50 mph range) and possible landslides and rock slides, according to the National Weather Service. The storm is moving at about 40 mph.

The chances of rain Thursday are 100% in the mountains, 70% in Charlotte and Raleigh and 60% in Columbia, the National Weather Service predicts.

Charlotte also faces a small chance of flooding and damaging winds, forecasters say.

The National Park Service announced the Blue Ridge Parkway will close off a series of spots as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday due to “possible Zeta storm impacts.” The closures could expand to entire corridors, depending on the forecast, NPS officials said.

Zeta was a Category 2 hurricane when it made landfall Wednesday afternoon and its sustained winds were still at 60 mph as it moved across Alabama into Georgia Thursday morning.

The storm is expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to the Carolinas, with ridge top areas seeing up to 6 inches, forecasters say.

“Despite the fast storm motion, intense rain rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour are expected,” the National Weather Service said early Wednesday.

“Rapid rises of area streams are likely with several streams possibly exceeding bankfull, resulting in areas of flash flooding. ... Excessive runoff may result in flooding of urban areas as well.”

The storm will continue to move rapidly, with rain expected to exit the Carolinas by early Friday, the NWS says.

This story was originally published October 28, 2020 at 9:09 AM.