Heavy Sunday storms turned into a serious headache across the North Carolina Piedmont on July 19, as the National Weather Service slapped a flood advisory on parts of the region and warned drivers to think twice before taking their usual routes home.
Forecasters cautioned that urban and small-stream flooding could linger through the night in low-lying spots and areas with poor drainage. Neighborhood streets, parking lots and low-water crossings were flagged as trouble zones where even a few inches of standing or moving water can quickly turn dangerous.
Officials stressed that water over a roadway is not something to test. What looks like a shallow puddle can hide a washed-out surface or a fast current that becomes life-threatening in minutes…