Heavy rain hammered central North Carolina on Thursday. Flooding caused downed trees, blocked roads, and power cuts to thousands of homes and businesses, according to WRAL.
Forecasters said additional rain was still passing through the area, and officials cautioned that drivers often cannot accurately judge the depth or danger of water from inside a vehicle.
What’s happening?
Rain totals mounted quickly across the middle of the state early Thursday, raising alarms from the Triad to the Triangle. As WRAL reported, High Point had already recorded more than 6 inches by 5 a.m., while Burlington, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem were also in the several-inch range.
Flood alerts widened as the morning went on. By midmorning, a flash flood warning was in effect for Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Moore, and southwestern Wake counties, alongside flood advisories for Wake, Durham, Chatham, Orange, Person, and Granville counties. WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said the Triad had already picked up about 1 to 3 inches of rain, with more on the way.
Water-covered roads quickly created transportation problems. WRAL reported that flooding shut down part of I-40 Westbound in Orange County, and crews responded to multiple crashes, including a wreck on Interstate 440 West in Raleigh and another in Garner on U.S. 70 at N.C. 50 that left a vehicle in a ditch…