Storm that flooded parts of North Carolina moves toward Northeast

Rainfall reports from the suburbs of Wilmington reached between 3.72 and 7.93 inches of rain as a deep layer of moisture interacted with very unstable air over the region.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A strong coastal low that led to flooding in the Wilmington, North Carolina, area Friday is starting its track northward, and bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to the Northeast by Saturday.

Rainfall reports from the suburbs of Wilmington reached between 3 and 8 inches as a deep layer of moisture interacted with very unstable air over the region. It's a setup that produced rainfall rates of 3 inches per hour, similar to land-falling tropical systems, according to the National Weather Service.

Leland, North Carolina, reported 7.93 inches of rain on Friday, while 3.72 inches fell since midnight at the Wilmington International Airport. Just over 2 inches of that amount was received in 6 hours.  

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The Brunswick County Sheriff's office said some water rescues were conducted in Leland, with some homes and businesses reporting water inside. North Brunswick High School reported standing water a few inches deep inside the building, according to the NWS.

Leland town officials were asking everyone to stay home if they can. 

"All area roads should be considered dangerous," city officials said.

Flash flooding happened throughout the Wilmington area, where many neighborhood roads and parts of the interstate were washed out.

Heavy rains continued Friday along the North Carolina coast as the storm system moves north.

A coastal low will develop along the East Coast this weekend and will ruin beach plans up and down the coast.
(FOX Weather)


 

Storm to affect much of the Atlantic Beaches this weekend

In addition to the flooding rains, the coastal low was expected to bring gusty winds, rough surf and dangerous rip currents to the region.

FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin said that while water temperatures are on the comfortable side along the coast in the Southeast, thunderstorms are possible through the weekend, so it’s best to stay out of the water.

The rip current risk along the East Coast.
(FOX Weather)


 

"With thunderstorm chances being so high and the winds that we’re anticipating as we move into the weekend, we’re going to have to be concerned about beach erosion and also some dangerous rip currents," Merwin added.

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The coastal storm is also expected to bring gusty winds to the area. 

The wind gust forecast for the Northeast U.S.
(FOX Weather)


 

The storm will bring showers to the I-95 corridor in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Saturday, then merge with an approaching cold front late Saturday. That will likely produce steady rains in the Northeast on Saturday night into early Sunday before some clearing later in the day. 

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