Monday was a WRAL weather alert day as potential Tropical Cyclone No. 8 brought heavy rains, strong winds and the threat of tornadoes, flooding and power outages to North Carolina.
The greatest impacts of PTC No. 8 were felt in the second half of Monday, especially along the coast, where Carolina Beach had already received more than 380 mm of rain, causing life-threatening flooding.
On Monday, tropical storm warnings and multiple tornadoes were in effect along the North Carolina coast.
A flash flood warning was issued for Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Wake and Wayne counties until midnight. Additionally, a wind warning was in effect for these counties, as well as Sampson, Scotland and Wayne, until 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Therefore, the WRAL weather alert will last until Tuesday morning.
Several local school districts canceled extracurricular activities and Sampson Community College closed early.
Several organizations announced delays for Tuesday, including:
- Schools in Lee County
- Schools in Duplin County
- Schools in Harnett County
- Schools in Hoke County
- Little Beginningz Learning
- Christian Luther School
- Northwood Temple Academy
- STARS Charter School
- Sampson Community College
- Stedman BC Day Care
- The Ark Daycare in Clinton
- Tom Thumb Academy in Salemburg
- Trinity Child Care in Fayetteville
- Trinity Christian School
- Wayne County Schools
Helpful links: Sign up for WRAL weather alerts | Live DUALDoppler5000 | Wind speeds and gusts | Live cams across North Carolina | WRAL interactive hurricane tracker
In downtown Raleigh, the wind increased significantly and the buildings on Fayetteville Street acted like a wind tunnel.
Residents had to lean against the wind or hold onto their umbrellas as rain continued throughout the day, with wind speeds reaching up to 30 miles per hour, soaking the ground and causing trees to fall.
On Sunday evening, an oak tree fell on Timber Drive near Crabtree Boulevard, leaving more than 100 people without power for more than 12 hours.
Conditions should improve by Tuesday, although persistent rain and wind were still possible early in the morning. Showers and storms should become less frequent by Tuesday afternoon.
Brunswick County imposes curfew
Due to potential Tropical Cyclone #8, several people were stranded on US-17 in Brunswick County Monday afternoon due to severe flooding.
As a result, Brunswick County imposed a curfew on unincorporated areas until 6 a.m. Tuesday due to severe flooding.
In a statement, the county urged residents to stay home or in a safe location until the curfew is lifted and road conditions improve.
Local impacts of potential tropical cyclone No. 8
The storm also caused significant disruption in other areas, with power outages and fallen trees occurring in Cary and Raleigh.
Thousands have been without power since Monday evening, especially in Wake County.
Some areas experienced periods of heavy rain and wind gusts between 25 and 35 miles per hour. A huge tree fell on a Fayetteville resident’s home, but fortunately no one was injured.
Street flooding occurred in Southport, prompting Southport Police to ask residents to avoid traffic.
Due to the effects of the storm, major roads were impassable.
In a Facebook post, Southport Police wrote:
“Please stay off the road if possible – major road washouts – this is River Road between Tiger Mart and 50 Lakes Drive – hazardous conditions – impassable conditions on River Road.”
Looking ahead to next week, the low pressure system will weaken, but its impact will persist throughout the week.
“That means there will be a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms every Wednesday afternoon and evening through Friday,” Michaels said. “Some dry air could arrive just in time for the weekend.”
Governor Cooper urges caution
Governor Roy Cooper posted on Platform X and urged residents to stay safe:
“Southeastern North Carolina is experiencing severe flooding as heavy rain continues. We are in contact with local authorities and @NCEmergency is assisting coastal communities with storm response. Stay safe and follow the guidance of local emergency authorities.” – RC
NC emergency teams were on standby
Flooding is often the most dangerous part of a storm.
“Water is one of the most powerful forces on earth. Even a small amount of rain or flood water on a road can have devastating consequences,” said Darshan Patel, Wake County Emergency Management operations manager.
Patel said the ground was already soaked by this week’s rains and flooding could easily occur in low-lying areas.
“We work closely with our partners to assess potential public safety concerns. If risks are identified, we are prepared to take proactive measures,” he said.
Emergency crews are also monitoring the condition of roads and power lines. Duke Energy expects possible outages as strong coastal winds move inland and are accompanied by heavy rainfall.
“Mother Nature is a constant challenge,” said Jeff Brooks, a spokesman for Duke Energy. “Wet ground makes it even more difficult to prevent power outages caused by falling trees, but we are doing everything we can to minimize disruptions.”
Duke Energy is keeping its current teams on standby and ready to deploy to critical areas if needed. Although summer is coming to an end, the peak of the tropical storm season is just beginning.
“This system has developed quickly offshore and will bring severe weather over the next few days. We could see more storms like this soon,” Brooks said.
To receive up-to-date information on local safety, residents should use ReadyWake, a mobile resource that provides notifications about potential threats in their area.
Road closure information is also available on DriveNC. A “Potential Tropical Cyclone” tab has been added to the company’s website. Users can toggle the tab on and off to see the specific impacts of that storm on the roads.
